Palestinian official: Israeli referendum bill undermines peace

A Palestinian official accused Israel Wednesday of hindering peace efforts after the Israeli parliament approved a bill that requires all decisions regarding land concession to be put to a referendum. Yasser Abd Rabbo, Secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization, told Xinhua the new resolution shows that Israel is "extending one hand for peace, and stabs peace efforts with the other hand," adding its refusal to withdraw from lands occupied in 1967 is an obstacle for the two-state solution. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset approved the referendum bill in its second and third reading. The bill requires a referendum on any future plan to cede lands for reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians. The move by Israel came amid the faltering U.S-brokered peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.