Let the people have the final say

National referendums are acceptable in many countries -- not always because of the particular importance of a certain issue on the agenda, rather as an expression that in any given democratic system the decisions made by the elected institutions are occasionally not enough. A national referendum is another measure, interesting and often of great importance, which can be employed by a democratic system. In this way, the public is questioned about an issue that the parties' platforms do not directly address.

In Israel there is no national referendum institute. All of the most critical decisions that influence our lives and the future of the state are made at the cabinet or Knesset level. There have even been cases in which the decision to go to war was made without the approval of the entire government. The Sinai Campaign in 1956 was authorized by no more than four senior officials.

The time has come to create a national referendum institute in Israel, not for issues such as smoking in public places, but certainly for fateful issues. And at the center of debate over the future of the country is always the question of a peace agreement with the Palestinians and our Arab neighbors.

A future accord with the Palestinians will surely require concessions that will impact future generations, and will certainly change the map of the country. These are profound and central questions that lack a consensus, and it is extremely important that the public's real will is completely reflected as it pertains to these questions. The government should not be the only deciding factor. Indeed, there are enough historical examples of governments acting against the political platforms they presented to the people prior to being elected. The 1978 Camp David Accords with Egypt are a clear example of agreements that contradicted the platform presented to voters in previous elections by the ruling party (Likud, and before 1973, its forerunner, Gahal).

When the public places its trust in a party it isn’t simply placing its trust in one person or another, but in a worldview that the party makes clear before elections. Such fundamental issues, for example relinquishing territory or transferring citizens to the governance of a foreign state, is best done by the entire public in a pure and direct democratic fashion.

Meanwhile, we must keep in mind that the government cannot simply call for a national referendum; it needs to be legislated by the Knesset. Even the manner in which the referendum is presented to the public and how the question is formulated is of great importance.

The question regarding who has the right to vote in a national referendum also must be clearly stated in law, along with who is authorized to oversee the voting process, its legitimacy, the results and how much power it has to determine the final decision.

The establishment of a national referendum in Israel provides a clear direction for the best decision-making process, the results of which cannot be denied legitimacy, in light of the deep gaps separating the people. The public's vote is always practical and free of intra-party political considerations. The conditions of the government's future peace deal will be influenced if it knows that the deal is dependent on the public's approval.