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| Israeli cabinet backs referendum bill for peace process | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Israeli cabinet has approved a bill requiring any peace deal with the Palestinians to be put to a referendum. | The Israeli cabinet has approved a bill requiring any peace deal with the Palestinians to be put to a referendum. |
| A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that it was "important that on such historic decisions every citizen should vote directly". | A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that it was "important that on such historic decisions every citizen should vote directly". |
| The cabinet has also been discussing a controversial proposal by the PM to free a number of Palestinian prisoners. | The cabinet has also been discussing a controversial proposal by the PM to free a number of Palestinian prisoners. |
| The release forms part of US-backed efforts to resume the peace process. | The release forms part of US-backed efforts to resume the peace process. |
| 'Tough decisions' | |
| The Israeli government will seek "urgent and important" approval for the referendum bill, asking parliament to fast-track its passage. | |
| "Any agreement which may be reached in negotiations will be put to a referendum," Mr Netanyahu's office said. | "Any agreement which may be reached in negotiations will be put to a referendum," Mr Netanyahu's office said. |
| The bill is seen as a conciliatory gesture to right-wing members of the government who are wary of concessions Israel might have to make during peace process negotiations. | |
| The issue of the release of the prisoners, some of whom have carried out militant attacks that claimed Israeli lives, has proved more difficult for the PM. | The issue of the release of the prisoners, some of whom have carried out militant attacks that claimed Israeli lives, has proved more difficult for the PM. |
| Sunday's cabinet meeting was delayed by an hour as he sought support. | Sunday's cabinet meeting was delayed by an hour as he sought support. |
| "This moment is not easy for me, is not easy for the cabinet ministers, and is not easy especially for the bereaved families, whose feelings I understand," Mr Netanyahu said ahead of the meeting. | "This moment is not easy for me, is not easy for the cabinet ministers, and is not easy especially for the bereaved families, whose feelings I understand," Mr Netanyahu said ahead of the meeting. |
| "But there are moments in which tough decisions must be made for the good of the nation and this is one of those moments." | "But there are moments in which tough decisions must be made for the good of the nation and this is one of those moments." |
| It has been suggested by Palestinian sources, although not confirmed officially, that peace talks could start again in the US next week. The negotiations have been stalled since 2010. | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry announced on 19 July that the talks would begin "in the next week or so". | |
| He said the parties had "reached an agreement that establishes a basis for resuming direct final status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis". | |
| The Palestinians have insisted Israel recognise pre-1967 ceasefire lines as borders of a Palestinian state, subject to some negotiation, before any talks commence, but this is something that has been opposed by right-wing members of Mr Netanyahu's coalition. | |
| The issue of settlement-building halted the last direct talks in September 2010. | |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he will also put any peace deal to a referendum. |