PM: Accord with PA will have to come before the people
Netanyahu says he is considering putting any future agreements to a referendum while on tour of the south; tells Hamas: "Don't test our determination."
By HERB KEINON, JPOST.COM STAFFnetanyahu negev 311(photo credit: GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he would consider Likud MK Ophir Akunis's proposal to bring a bill to the Knesset's winter session next month mandating that any agreement with the Palestinians be voted on in a national referendum.Speaking during a tour of Ashkelon and Sderot, Netanyahu said that if an agreement with the PA was indeed concluded, "it is clear that it will have to come before the people for a decision one way or another.".While on a tour of towns near the Gaza border, Netanyahu said in Sderot: "It is clear to me that any agreement that I will bring will be brought to the nation for a decision, and there are a number of ways to do that."RELATED:PM hints at placing IDF forces in PA state after any dealWeek before freeze end, US tries to broker compromise "This kind of decision requires a national decision; therefore, I said I would consider it," the prime minister explained. He added that the peace talks are not just a process; his goal is to bring a historic peace agreement.Netanyahu also warned Hamas not to shoot missiles at Israel."Our first commitment is to security, and I recommend that Hamas and the other [terror] organizations not test our determination to respond to the [missile] fire," he said in a speech in Ashkelon, after being presented with parts of missiles that landed in the city.Netanyahu added: "I said that shootings will get a quick response, and this lowered the amount of missiles. There were shootings recently, and we responded and hit Hamas targets, including a senior Hamas official. We will continue with this policy," he added.Referring to comments made by Abbas yesterday on the recognition of the state of Israel, Netanyahu said:"The Palestinians must recognize the Jewish state, and the fact they haven't done so raises some doubts. I am saying to Abbas – recognize the Jewish state."
