Envoy to take same-sex partner abroad
State provides diplomat's non-Jewish partner with diplomatic passport, Israeli citizenship
For the first time ever the state will provide a foreign partner of an Israeli diplomat with a diplomatic passport and Israeli citizenship, and allow him to join his partner on his mission abroad, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.
The Israeli diplomat and his non-Jewish foreign partner have been living together and raising a child in Israel for the past few years. This week the State of Israel decided to make an exception and grant his partner an Israeli citizenship so their family could travel together for a diplomatic mission.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
The two met a few years ago when the Israeli diplomat served as an envoy in an important eastern-European country. After three years the two moved to Israel and began raising their child.
After the diplomat recently learned that he was to be named ambassador to another eastern-European country, he was also forced to face the fact that his partner could not join him due to his status as temporary resident.
Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon and Director General of the Foreign Ministry Rafi Barak intervened on the diplomat's behalf and requested to grant his partner permanent status is Israel so he may join his envoy partner.
A special exceptions committee, headed by Director of the Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Administration Amnon Ben-Ami, approved the unusual request.
This is the first time Israel has granted Israeli citizenship to a foreign partner of an Israeli envoy of the same sex, not to mention to a foreign citizen who does not plan on living in Israel in the upcoming years.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
