When she served as a Likud Knesset member, Tzipi Livn i supported a referendum law. Such a law would require a majority vote of more than 50% of all those who have voting rights to ratify any diplomatic agreement with the Palestinians.

Yet, Livni, in her current roles as chairwoman of the HaTenua party and justice minister in charge of diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinians, was the first recently to oppose a similar bill that is stirring up Israel’s political system. The proposal that was submitted by the deputy minister at the prime minister's office Ofir Akunis, is promoted by HaBayit HaYehudi chairman and Trade and Industry Minister Naftali Bennett, and has the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Livni, who changed her mind in recent years, explained in a series of emphatic interviews to the media that “a referendum is not the right thing to do and harms the principle of democracy.” This is what she said: “When we go to war we do not ask the nation, and the same is true for a diplomatic arrangement.” In addition, Livni argued that “this initiative demonstrates a desire to renounce the responsibility we accepted on ourselves during elections.”

A similar stance was also displayed by chairwoman of the opposition as well as of the Labor party, Knesset member Shelly Yachimovich. Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman agreed as well, even embarrassing the prime minister on this issue in front of the cameras. Liberman simply said, in his usual upfront manner, “referendums are the escape of decision-makers from their responsibility.” The prime minister, for his part, maintained his restraint and tried to hide his discomfiture.