Yesh Atid: No Civil Marriage Without Same-Sex Marriage
Yesh Atid says it will vote down a proposal to allow civil marriage if same-sex couples are not included.
Protesters support civil marriage for all (Israel news photo: Flash 90)
By Maayana Miskin, Chana Ya'ar
First Published: 6/16/2013, 2:19 PM
Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party has threatened to torpedo a law that would allow secular marriages in Israel - a change Yesh Atid supports -if it does not include coverage for homosexual couples. The Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) faction has firmly opposed the bill, saying it contravenes everything the Jewish State stands for.
This is a battle that has been taking place around the world, and certainly in Western countries, for at least the past decade. In the United States, individual states and legislators have come under increased pressure by alternative lifestyle movements to change their laws to allow such marriages.
The current law in Israel allows civil marriage only for those with no religious affiliation; marriages between citizens affiliated with a religion are recognized only if conducted by clergy belonging to a recognized religion.
Secular activist groups have objected, arguing that even couples who are able to marry in a religious ceremony should have the option of a secular ceremony recognized by the state.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168971#.Ub3FCE7D8lY
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