Theocracy in disguise, religion still has too much to say within the knesset. As long as they are controlling the secular majority, Israel is not a democracy.

and he was against the state of Israël. He did not agree for the same reasons but thought that with a Rabinate under control of the government, it would have to accept weddings with converts that are not sincere, so he said that weddings should be civilian by the state and religious by the Rabbis. So you see how an anti-religious can be partner with a rabidly anti-Israël Rabbi

How do the Druize, Bahai, Arab Christians, Beduim and Muslims get married? They are not all flying out of the country to do it.

Having a central body sign off on "Jewish marriages" is a very wise thing for the Jewish people. Otherwise, who is keeping track of who's really Jewish? These things matter. Israel is a Jewish State - in fact, THE Jewish State. There aren't any others. Why does it surprise you that Judaism has a lot of influence in the Jewish state?

Israel is a Jewish state. If you don't want to be Jewish there are many places you can live. Look at the demographics the majority of.children are orthodox. Within 20 years the majority of the Knesset will be orthodox. Next election habayit ha yehudi will defeat Likud. Your radical left wing desire to end the Jewish nature of Israel will fail.

1- I am not anti religious, religion is something personal and should never be forced upon the masses. 2- While the rabbi is anti Israel, I am not as long as the rights of the individual are respected, which is unfortunately also not the case. 3- I understand the reasoning of the rabbinate/religious echelon but everyone seems to forget there is more to Israel than yews, there is a +20% muslim population (and growing) who's rights are denied as well ... it is not only about a jew marrying a non jew but also a christian marrying a muslim or anything else. If they are afraid of assimilation into another religion, than it means only one thing, they don't believe enough in their own religion ...

Israel's marriage laws are a disgrace. I understand the public policy behind them, and I understand the reasons for Ben-Gurion's deal with the ultra-orthodox for their support of the State of Israel. But, times have changed. A Jewish state, yes. A Jewish homeland, yes. A Jewish army, yes. Education and openness welcoming and encouraging Judaism in this generation and future generations, absolutely! But, ancient LAWS regarding marriage do not belong in our progressive democracy. We are better than this. Jews will remain Jews out of love and hope for our people and/or (gasp!) love of Hashem, not because the State requires marriage of Jewish man to Jewish woman and nothing more or less. I now and forever support and would die for the State of Israel and for the survival of our people. This is something with which I simply strongly disagree. Am Yisrael Chai!

The only part of the Jewish State I don't understand is the existence of people like yourself. I am an Israeli and I want to live in Israel. Jewishness has nothing to do with it. Jewishness is a religion and has nothing to do with a Jewish race, unless of course, you are a racist.

Who gave you the authority to define what it means to be a Jewish state? Judaism is a progressive and varied religion and culture. Ask 20 Jews from 20 different countries or even 20 Jews from different neighborhoods in the same country what it means to be Jewish and each time you will get 20 different answers. We want Jews to want to be Jews, marry Jews, and raise Jews. We should not force it on anyone lest we lose our souls. I am far from a radical leftist and I would take a bullet at this very second to protect the Jewish people and the State of Israel. But I have pride in our people and our ability to adapt and evolve. We need not force our own opinions on Judaism on other Jews. We must stand together especially in lieu of the tenacity of our enemies. Am Yisrael Chai!

the Knesset will have a religious majority so that this destructive civil marriage stupidity will have an end. Some people simply forget that this land was founded as to be a Jewish state.Those who do not like this have some 150 other countries to live.

Personally I believe that the possibility should be given to people to have a civilian wedding. It would solve a number of problems for the religious people too. First, since a civilian marriage is not considered as a binding marriage according to halacha, chances are that children born out of wedlock would not be considered as mamzerim (bastards). It would also become clearer who is halachikally Jew.

Marriage in Israel is controlled by each religious group. If they are not leaving the country to marry, it may be that the non-Jewish marriage laws might have wider latitude then the Jewish.

It clearly does not approve. I am perfectly happy with this. Whatever the Rabbinate is poisonous. I never accept invitations to weddings as I do not approve of this sort of behaviour. Much as I love Israel I won't allow religious nutters to have any impact on my life whatsoever.

why does every person who is secular think that they can tell us what a Jewish state is? Eventually (as borne out by statistics) Israel will be a religious country. They will outlaw gay marriages driving on the Shabbat and thought police will visit your home to make certain that every room has a kosher mezzuzah. Those found with non kosher food in the refrigerator will be given public lashes. Not really, but I believe that this is what most seculars fear, so I wrote it. But in reality, we are a Jewish state. If some one wishes to live like a non Jew, he is allowed to but why ruin it for those who like their traditions?

The rest is superstitious mumbo-jumbo. The only well known fact is, that God loves doughnuts and is quite overweight.....

Whats so difficult to understand here.

... has shown many times that any STABLE country arises as a national state, and then absorbs other ethnic and religious groups on one and only one principle: LOYALTY. Nothing other matters. Maintain Jewish majority: big YES. But all others, who are loyal, who serve in the army, who work and pay taxes, must not be alienated by the authorities. It is not a matter of faith or "justice"; it is a matter of national security and survival of the country.

If we do anything that the Orthodox don't want us to do then we are outcast We should never allowed The Orthodox To dictate there will They are a minority and they should act like one Religion is something personal and intimate that should never be forced The big problem with religious people is that there believe that they are always right They are afraid of changes and if they change something it's always in the wrong direction and If something happened to Jews it's because they were not really just enough They do not believe in freewheel and democracy The only way is the Torah not just the Torah but their own interpretation of the Torah I hope that one day Israel will be a better place without this orthodox

The first step is to seperate state from religion. Israel claims to be a democracy yet is far from it. Civil marriage is not a threat to those who want to get married in a religious ceremony. It is outrageous that in the year 2013 thousands of couples are forced to leave the country to get married because they do not fit the criteria according to the rabbinute. It is everyones basic human right to marry the person of their choice regardless of sexual orientation, religious identity or nationality. Gay marriage is not about giving gay people special rights it is about giving all people the same rights.

Would civil unions be provided only to homosexual couples or also to heterosexuals, and if not - why not? Would a civil union be allowed between a citizen who is legally married with a citizen who is not legally married, and if not - why not? Would a civil union be allowed between more than two citizens, and if not - why not? The proposal is anything but non-discriminatory.

I thought Israel is in the middle east. And the only democracy but what that has to do with Jewish law.

opinions TWICE! You did not publish mine even once? Even that dishonorable Michael from Haifa gets his published. What's going on, dude? Defense line down?

First stop yourself from discriminating against NATURE. Homosexuality is anti nature. It is sick and repulsive and it will not last in a Jewish Israel...and Israel will and must be Jewish....otherwise it is NOT Israel. Hivanta?

Israel is the democratic nation state of the Jewish people. It was never intended to be a theocracy run according to Halakha. The current laws are a continuation of the Ottoman millet system, left in place by Ben Gurion in order to please what was then a small group of anti-Zionist Haredim. If you think the current system is anything less than a disgrace you probably belong in an Islamist backwater.

Is this a Jewish country or not? Respect our religion and traditions , that some don't observe and respect it does not make them right. enough with this bleeding hearted left wing secular minority nonsense

be mamzerim.

Bravo, you got it all right in one

Your article is based on a massive amount of incorrect information. Your title is also quite misleading and for a journalist there is no excuse. The United States for example does not allow gay marriage in all states. Before you type unintelligent statements, make sure you have your facts straight.

Israel may be a democracy (without a constitution) but it's not part of the western world it's part of the middle east and such is it social, economical and political foot print.