The Likud Knesset faction decided yesterday to submit a private bill calling for a national referendum on the future of the West Bank. The bill, initiated by Herut leader Menachem Beigin and supported by Gen, Ariel Sharon, founder of Likud, was in response to a statement by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan in New York Saturday night that Israel was prepared. to negotiate with Jordan and the Palestinians, Beigin said.
According to Beigin. that statement made by Dayan at a dinner of the United Jewish Appeal, indicated that the government was prepared to make territorial concessions. The present Cabinet majority may support “the repartition of Eretz Israel” but most of the public is against it and therefore the issue must be decided by the people through a referendum. Beigin said. Sharon said the public has to decide before the government completes negotiations for territorial concessions. He urged the establishment of “faits accomplish” in the territories to preclude their return to the Arabs.
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