"I'm convinced that the nation won't help give away parts of the homeland," coalition chairman Yariv Levin (Likud Beytenu), who proposed the bill, said after it was authorized.
The legislation in question essentially turns the existing Referendum Law into a Basic Law, meaning that is meant to eventually become part of the constitution. It also adds a clause making the day of the referendum a vacation day.
The Referendum Law requires any treaty conceding sovereign land to be brought to the Knesset. If over 80 MKs approve, the deal can be implemented. If 61 to 80 MKs approve, it will be brought to a referendum. If less than half of all MKs approve, the treaty will be rejected.