Netanyahu says any peace deal will be put to Israeli referendum

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has promised to hold a referendum on any peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Speaking two days after US secretary of state John Kerry announced the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Mr Netanyahu, who faces stiff opposition from within his own government to making far-reaching concessions, said the Israeli people will decide.

“I don’t think these decisions can be made, if there is a deal, by one government or another, but need to be brought as a national decision,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu described the talks as a “strategic interest” for Israel in light of the nuclear threat from Iran and the civil war in Syria. He promised the negotiations, which have been on hold for three years, will be conducted discreetly, with integrity and honesty.

Fear of 'terror state'
He set two main guidelines for the Israeli negotiators: to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel, and to avoid a future Palestinian state becoming an Iranian-backed "terror state".

Despite Israel insisting on talks without preconditions, officials confirmed it will release 80 veteran Palestinian prisoners, including detainees convicted of participating in terrorist attacks.

The prisoner issue remains the most emotive for Palestinians and it is believed the release will significantly boost the standing of President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been criticised for agreeing to renew talks without an Israeli promise to freeze building on West Bank Jewish settlements.

According to Palestinian sources, Mr Kerry delivered a letter of guarantee to Mr Abbas promising the talks would be renewed on the basis of the 1967 West Bank border. The letter calls on both sides to refrain from moves that might endanger the negotiations. Israel will restrict settlement expansion and the Palestinians will refrain from diplomatic steps against Israel at international forums.

Israeli president Shimon Peres called Mr Abbas to offer his good wishes for the Ramadan holiday and praised his “courageous and historic decision” to return to the table.

However, the Islamist Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said Mr Abbas has no legitimacy to make concessions on behalf of Palestinians.

“Resuming the talks only serves the occupation and gives it a cover for its settlement expansion,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

Low-key context
In contrast to previous peace talks, there is a lack of euphoria from either side and little hope of an outcome resulting in an independent Palestinian state. According to some analysts, such low expectations, combined with careful American mediation, provide the perfect background to make progress.