Livni to introduce civil marriage bill

Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni said Wednesday she intended to introduce a bill legalizing civil marriage in Israel.

In an interview with Channel 9 on Wednesday, Livni said she would put the bill forward during the current Knesset session despite the fact it will likely be truncated in light of the upcoming general elections. Though it would have a slim chance of passing, she said, it would "demonstrate Kadima's resolve on the matter."

Channel 9 is Israel's Russian-language cable channel, and Livni's choice to use such a venue from which to launch the bill will appear to most as a calculated campaign move aimed at securing the Russian and secular vote.

A substantial number of Israeli citizens from the former Soviet Union are keen on seeing civil marriage legislated, as they are not recognized by the rabbinical courts as being Jewish, and therefore cannot be married in Israel.

Many secular Israelis are also frustrated with the status quo, and couples looking for a non-religious ceremony regularly travel abroad to do so. Marriages licensed by a foreign country are recognized in Israel.  

"I support civil marriage. It was a key issue in Kadima's platform and I want to bring it before the Knesset now, before we recess. This cannot remain in the abstract, it is a matter of principle and it must be realized," she said, adding that the issue would remain on Kadima's agenda in the coming elections.

MK Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima), who heads the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, has been named Kadima's point man on the matter, and has prepared a brief which Livni intends on present the House with next week.

The bill is aimed at enabling some 350,000 Israelis who are deemed by the State as having "no religious affiliation" - and who therefore are ineligible for a Rabbinate-ordained marriage - to wed in Israel.

"This is more a declaration of intent more than anything else," said Ben-Sasson, "But I certainly want to make it clear that we will pursue this path. Livni is very comfortable with the idea and she is all for promoting it. There are over 350,000 people who cannot marry within Israel. The country can't allow that. We've drafted a bill and we intend to introduce it even if we can't vote on it at this time."

Likud: Cheap propaganda

Sources close to the foreign minister said Wednesday that the bill "will not be brought before the House at all costs, but Kadima's intentions are very serious. If we see our way to make it happen, we will."

Should Livni win the next general elections, however, the bill may hamper attempts to include Shas in the coalition. The ultra-Orthodox party fiercely objects instating civil marriage in Israel and has done everything within its power to crush similar bills in the past.

A source in the Likud, outraged by news of Livni's intentions, said his party was "amazed by the cheap propaganda wielded by Mrs. Livni, and by her blatant attempt to buy the Russian vote by making baseless promises.

"Kadima's government had three years to push this bill, but it was never important enough before now. Livni will soon find that the Russian public is much more intelligent than she thinks.

"Any compromise on the subject of civil marriage has to be acceptable to all sectors of Israeli society, and can only be brokered by a leader who understands the people," concluded the source.

Sources in Yisrael Beiteinu wondered aloud about Livni's timing, saying her sudden interest in the subject was odd, given the fact that she voted against similar bills twice.