Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Switzerland for its help in «organising a referendum on a peace treaty with the Palestinians».
Netanyahu made the comments during talks with the Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, on Thursday in Jerusalem.
«Come to Switzerland and we will advise you,» Burkhalter responded.
Many ministers of Netanyahu’s government are opposed to the idea of organising a referendum on the issue, however – in particular Tzipi Livni, who is responsible for negotiations with the Palestinians. They fear that the Israelis will have to make important territorial concessions.
According to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the discussions between Burkhalter and Netanyahu primarily focused on deepening bilateral relations between Switzerland and Israel, the situation in the region, and Swiss contributions in support of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.