'People should know that unmarried couples are entitled to same rights as those who are married'
Photo: CD Bank
Many Israelis against life out of wedlock
Poll reveals that nearly half of Israelis are against their children living out of wedlock; 70 percent of religious Israelis believe children born out of wedlock are bastards or ‘illegitimate’; ‘ignorance on this matter is reminiscent of third world countries,’ New Family organization head says
A recent poll has revealed that nearly half of Israelis are against their children living out of wedlock.
Only 17 percent of Israelis said they would support their children should they choose such a lifestyle.
Each year, more and more Israeli citizens opt to establish a joint household without the recognition of the State’s civil or rabbinical institutions.
According to the poll, 70 percent of religious Israelis believe that children born out of wedlock are bastards or ‘illegitimate,’ while 30 percent of secular Israelis have similar thoughts on the subject.
Irit Rosenblum, the founder and chairperson of New Family, said the misconception regarding unmarried couples “stems from the fact that the Israeli public is leaving family affairs to the religious-rabbinical authorities, which succeeded in instilling prejudice ideas regarding the connection between adult relationships and bringing children to the world.”
“The ignorance on this matter is reminiscent of third world countries,” she said.
'Conservatism related to psychological factors'
The poll showed that 56 percent of Israelis would not agree to live out of wedlock, with only 28 percent of Israeli women saying they would agree to such an arrangement.
Some 73 percent of Israelis adhere to the notion that bringing children into the world out of wedlock damages them in some way, the poll showed.
“The Israeli public’s conservatism on this matter is related to psychological factors and lack of knowledge,” Rosenblum said.
“People should know that unmarried couples are entitled to the same rights as those who are married. The only difference is that unmarried couples do need the Rabbinate’s authorization to split up,” she added.
