Referendum

An Israeli votes in the 2015 election, March 17, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israelis don’t get to hold a referendum on Palestine

A recent poll found that if there were a Brexit-style referendum over whether to maintain Israeli control over the West Bank, most Israelis would choose ‘remain.’ But is that up to Israelis to decide? If there were a referendum in Israel about whether to “leave” the West Bank — while holding onto most of the settlements…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man July 6, 2016

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO)

Referendum on peace agreement just might pass

The first reaction of the Israeli Right to the possible revival of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations has been to rush legislation ensuring a referendum on a future agreement. The idea is to supplement Israel’s 2010 law with provisions that tailor it to apply to any kind of agreement (the existing law passed in 2010 is somewhat…

By Dahlia Scheindlin July 23, 2013

Time for a referendum on annexing the West Bank and Gaza

By David Lehrer With Israeli elections on the horizon, one would expect progressive parties to recognize how dangerously close the Jewish state is to a complete democratic meltdown, and to put forward initiatives that have a realistic chance of stabilizing Israeli democracy. An independent Jewish state and an independent Palestinian state living side by side…

By +972 Magazine May 1, 2012

Latest

This man said he voted for the first time in 30 years because 'this time, it means something.' (photo: Lisa Goldman)

At one Cairo polling station, voting ‘because it has meaning’

On 19 March Egyptians voted on a package of constitutional amendments. There was a sense of exuberance on the streets, with total strangers smiling and asking each other how they had voted – ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ For many, it was their first experience in participatory democracy; for others, it was the first time they bothered…

By Lisa Goldman March 19, 2011

Cover of Egypt's Enigma Magazine (photo: Lisa Goldman)

Cairo, day 1: Referendum on constitutional amendments

Today, my first day in Cairo, is an historic one: Egyptians are voting on whether or not they want their constitution – which was suspended during the revolution – to be amended. People are lining up to vote in endless queues at polling stations all over Cairo, and Egyptians I follow on Twitter are updating…

By Lisa Goldman March 19, 2011

Israel’s referendum law: Who gets asked?

The concept of a referendum – a direct vote by the qualified voters of a state – is customary in some countries, as part of a nation’s right to determine its future. It is only in Israel that we see the perplexing notion of asking citizens of the occupying power – rather than the occupied…

By Haokets December 8, 2010

Referendum law: don’t give the Knesset so much credit

Let’s calm down, shall we? Saying that Knesset legislation has given a coup de grâce to the two state solution (TSS) is a gross misunderstanding of the Israeli political system. It’s almost like a kid telling his father he won’t be able to do his homework tonight because he lost his pencil. Yeah, Daddy’s gonna find you…

By Ami Kaufman November 23, 2010