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Thou shalt (not) have children
A Knesset decision to up rates charged by adoption agencies in Israel stands to end dream for thousands of families wishing to adopt
Ariana Melamed
Quietly, almost unbeknown to most of you, the Knesset has denied hundreds, if not thousands, of Israelis of their right to be parents. The right to hear the words "Mom" or "Dad."
It happened after a very un-climatic discussion over money. The Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee simply rendered its decision, oblivious to the implications. Most of those who want to have children, and are able to do so naturally, have the State's blessing and support: Their medical expenses will be subsidized and maternity leave paid for. The State loves children. It needs them. At least that's what it keeps telling us.
Having trouble conceiving? No problem. The State will fund your fertility treatments until you have two kids – at times a process amounting to $278,000 per family. That's how much the State loves children.
Those who are unable to conceive may try to adopt, but this is where it starts being an uphill battle: Only a handful of Israeli children are put up for adoption. Many apply. Many are denied.
Those who insist on forging on must go through the proper channels, associations monitored by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Any attempt to bend or break the rules may result in up to three years in prison.
Those who wished to adopt were required to pay adoption agencies up to $20,000 for the services entailed in this long, frustrating, exhausting procedure. The fee did not include medical bills, the necessary trips abroad or the stay – sometimes of weeks at a time – in a foreign country, where children do need homes.
But that wasn't enough for these adoption agencies. No. they were able, with the support of their overseeing body, to have the rates raised – and I quiver to the thought – to a minimum of €22,000; €24,000 in case special circumstances come into play. In todays exchange rates that means over NIS 130,000. Add to that the additional expenses required of those who have no choice but to refer to overseas adoption and the bill come down to NIS 200,000. Per child.
But the State, you say, the State that loves its children so, what does it do to help these parents? Absolutely nothing.
Let's stick to the basic math: Starting Wednesday, if you want to adopt two children you need NIS 400,000. The Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee made having a family a rich man's dream. Most Israeli households, who only have average incomes, will no longer be able to afford the process – will no longer be able to have children. The committee took that away without speaking to even one of them.
Many adoptive parents wanted to be heard, but nobody bothered to invite them to the meetings. The committee, apparently, also hasn't heard that in other countries, like the US for example, the law offers those adopting overseas considerable tax breaks – up to $11,650 per adoption. It allows employers to lend employees financial support of up to $10,000; allows soldiers to get adoption grants. In other western countries, adoptive parents are entitled to special benefits. In Israel
they're entitled to nothing.
In Israel, there are now thousands of terrified couples, just beginning the adoption process, for whom a happy ending is no longer guaranteed. Not now and not ever.
About five years go, then-Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson tried to cut back on fertility treatments' subsidies. "Who are you to decide whether or not I get to be a mother?" cried out a woman present at the Knesset's Finance Committee hearing, fighting for her basic, human right to feel the touch of tiny hands clutching her fingers.
The Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee didn't bother to hear what one parent had to say before sealing their fate. It couldn't care less. It went about the business of raising the rates and called it a day.
I have only one thing to ask of the committee members: Those of you who have children, go home, look then in the eyes and then look at yourselves in the mirror. Ask yourselves just one thing: Who gave you the right?
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