Same-sex marriage in Israel
Same-sex marriage cannot legally be performed in Israel, because only government-recognized religious authorities — all of whom disallow same-sex marriage — may officiate marriages. Foreign marriages, including same-sex marriages, are recognized in Israel. Furthermore, like unmarried opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples in Israel can access nearly all of the rights of marriage in the form of unregistered cohabitation status, akin to common-law marriage. According to a 2009 poll, most of the Israeli population supports same-sex marriage.
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[edit] Attitudes
A poll conducted in August 2009 found that 61% of Israelis supported same-sex marriage, with 31% opposed. Furthermore, 60% supported joint adoption by same-sex couples, with 34% opposed.[1]
[edit] Marriage in Israel
The religious authority for Jewish marriages is the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and there are parallel authorities for Christians, Muslims and Druze with a total of 15 religious courts. These regulate all marriages and divorces for their own communities. Currently they all oppose same-sex marriages. If the views of one of these bodies were to change, however, it would be legal for members of that religious community to enter into same-sex marriages in Israel.
In February 2009 Knesset member Nitzan Horowitz introduced a same-sex marriage bill.[2]
[edit] Recognition of foreign marriage
On November 21, 2006 the Supreme Court of Israel ordered the government to recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad. The case was filed by five male Israeli couples married in Canada.[3] The ruling dealt with the registration of the marriage in Israel, noting that it does not refer to the validity of those marriages.
Same-sex couples in Israel already enjoyed most of the rights of married couples, as do unmarried opposite sex couples; the decision allows married same-sex couples the same tax breaks as opposite-sex married couples, as well as the legal right to adopt children. Moshe Gafni, a Haredi MK, said that he would consider presenting a bill to the Knesset to attempt to overturn the court ruling.[3]
Same-sex wedding ceremonies without legal significance can already be conducted in Israel,[4] which, coupled with legally recognized foreign marriages, allows for both same-sex wedding ceremonies in Israel and legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Israel, on condition that the marriage certificates come from another country. The first unofficial municipal wedding took place in August 2009 following the Tel Aviv Pride Parade; five couples were married by Mayor Ron Huldai. The traditional verse from Psalm 137, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither..." replaced "Jerusalem" with "Tel Aviv," Israel's most gay-accepting city.[5][6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Three-in-Five Israelis Back Same-Sex Marriage". Angus Reid Public Opinion. http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/36810/three_in_five_israelis_back_same_sex_marriage/. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ Israeli Knesset To Consider Gay Marriage
- ^ a b "Israel's Supreme Court approves same-sex marriages performed abroad". Associated Press. Israelinsider. 2006-11-21. http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/9915.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ "Same-Sex Marriage in Tel Aviv". Tablet. http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/5692/same-sex-marriage-in-tel-aviv/.
- ^ Kraft, Dina (June 16, 2009). "Can gay friendliness boost Israel’s image?". JTA. http://jta.org/news/article/2009/06/16/1005917/can-gay-friendliness-boost-israels-image.
- ^ Mitnick, Joshua (August 4, 2009). "Gay Israelis reeling after shooting attack". JTA. http://jta.org/news/article/2009/08/04/1007031/gay-israelis-reeling-after-shooting-attack.
