Israel's referendum law a "mockery of international law," Syria says

Israel's referendum law a "mockery of international law," Syria says

2010-11-24 03:15:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday slammed Israel's decision to approve the National Referendum Law, which requires a two-thirds majority consent of Israel public to hand over any annexed territories.

Israel's Knesset, or parliament, approved the law Monday night, requiring either a national referendum or a supporting Knesset vote of 80 members in any instance in which Israel agrees in diplomatic talks to hand over areas under Israel sovereignty, as in the case of East Jerusalem and Golan Heights.

"The Knesset's decision to pass the bill makes a mockery of international law. The international community considers east Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights to be occupied territories," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.

"Syria totally rejects this Israeli measure which changes nothing to the fact that the Golan is Syrian territory and cannot be part of any negotiations," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Since 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settling close to 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements. In recent weeks, peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians have had further setbacks due to the controversial new housing plan in east Jerusalem.

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