A referendum can seal a peace deal. Or shatter it

In a well-functioning democracy where suffrage is universal and soverignty resides in the People, a referendum, properly understood and not merely reduced to being a disposable instrument, supplements a popular act of sovereignty. It does what popular representation (essentially a Parliament) is deemed not being able to achieve. It is a rare case, again, if properly used, of direct democracy at national level. What seems to be proposed here is none of the above. As for the South African case if it did help de Klerk get what he called a mandate, however South Africa was not a democracy: only the Whites voted. The abuse of the referendum in modern democracies is wide spread, such as Mr Blair's renegeing on holding on Europe. I am afraid this proposal is politician or marketing ploy, to appease backers - unless by universal franchise Israel and Palerstine, and Palestinians of the diaspora, are allowed to voter together, on a single question on the same day, and that vote carry power of Sovereignty.

apologies for typos in comment above - spammers are getting on my nerves!

Yet if the electorate approves the result, that's an enormous boost to its chances of success.

By and large I think the "real diehards" are quite right to suspect "that a ballot might be a trick to bypass them". The sooner the better.

great article.

get rid of the spammers please....