Parliament bill in Israel seen a threat to peace

JERUSALEM - Israel's parliament passed a bill that could complicate peace efforts with the Palestinians and Syria by making it very difficult for any government to make territorial withdrawals.

The bill requires a two-thirds Knesset majority to cede land in east Jerusalem to the Palestinians or in the Golan Heights to Syria. Failing that, either withdrawal would become subject to a referendum, and polls show winning public approval would be an uphill battle.

The bill - which passed on Monday by a 65-33 majority - will have little impact in the short term, since neither deal seems imminent. But it reflects growing jitters by hard-liners in parliament - especially over United States efforts to forge a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.