The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Jerusalem

Israel's President Shimon Peres said on Sunday any peace deal with the Palestinians should be put to a vote in the Jewish state either through a referendum or elections. Israel and the Palestinians re-launched peace talks after a seven-year hiatus at a U.S.-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November. Both Israel and the Palestinians agreed to try and reach a deal on Palestinian statehood before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office in a year. "I propose either a referendum or elections but this should be at the end of negotiations," Peres told Reuters on the sidelines of Israel's annual Herzliya security and policy conference which held its opening session in parliament. Peres, who holds the largely ceremonial position, said the government, as well as Israel's opposition parties in parliament, needed to "put together its position t. so the people can decide."