KNESSET APPROVES RESUMED CONSIDERATION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002684 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG SY IS SUBJECT: KNESSET APPROVES RESUMED CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION REQUIRING A REFERENDUM ON ANY AGREEMENT TO WITHDRAW FROM GOLAN OR EAST JERUSALEM Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, Reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (U) A majority of Knesset members voted December 9 in favor of continuing legislative discussions on a bill that passed its first reading last year. The bill would require a referendum on any GOI decision to withdraw from territories occupied in 1967 over which Israel has asserted sovereignty, specifically the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, unless the decision had already been endorsed by the vote of at least 80 members of Knesset (out of 120). The legislation would not affect the West Bank since Israel has not asserted sovereignty over that territory. The Knesset vote was required in order to put the bill back on the Knesset agenda, since the first reading took place during the previous Knesset session. The bill now goes into committee, which could be a lengthy process. Once it leaves committee, it must pass two more readings before becoming law. ¶2. (SBU) Several GOI ministers who previously opposed this legislation as unnecessarily restrictive on the GOI's ability to conduct negotiations with Syria voted in favor of keeping it under consideration. Included in this group were Defense Minister Barak (Labor),Intelligence Minister Meridor (Likud),and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ben Eliezer (Labor, a key Barak ally). Labor Party members hostile to Barak's leadership of the party lambasted his "yes" vote, claiming it demonstrated once again Barak's willingness to sell out the party's principles in order to preserve coalition unity. Barak is likely to remain unmoved. ¶3. (C) Comment. While the bill, if passed, would apply to both East Jerusalem and the Golan, its intent is focused on establishing a high hurdle of popular support for any eventual GOI decision to withdraw from the Golan Heights. One argument made by some GOI officials who are skeptical of negotiations with Syria is that the majority of the public and of the Knesset remains opposed to giving up the Golan. Others, however, maintain that if an agreement with Syria that addresses Israel's security needs could be reached, a strong Prime Minister would likely be able to gain enough public support to ensure that opponents could not block it. Those making this argument cite Menachem Begin's success in gaining majority support in the Knesset for returning the Sinai to Egypt. CUNNINGHAM