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Divorce. Ashdod sees highest increase
Photo: Visual/Photos
Ben-Dahan. Asks Mazuz to broaden sanctions against divorce-refusing husbands
Photo: Haim Tzach

Israel 2006: Where did people divorce most?

Number of divorces increases in 2006. Last year, 9,963 couples divorced, 268 more than previous year. Most significant increase noted in Ashdod, with Jerusalem following close behind. Tel Aviv is only in third place. And what kind of effect does war have on Haifa?

The people of Haifa have something to smile about. According to statistics from the religious courts, Haifa saw a decrease of 18 percent in the number of divorce applications in 2006 in comparison with the previous year. Director General of the Rabbinical Courts Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Dahan pinpointed the war in Lebanon as the main factor contributing to the decrease.

 

In a press conference held Monday in Jerusalem, Rabbi Ben-Dahan said that 268 more couples got divorced in 2006 than in the year before. This is close to a 4 percent increase. Overall, 9,963 couples got divorced in Israel in 2006 as opposed to only 9,695 couples who got divorced in Israel in 2005.

 

Ashdod's regional Rabbinical Court noted the highest increase (19.1 percent) in couples filing for divorce than in any other region. The next highest increase was in Jerusalem, which saw an increase of 10.4 percent. It seems as though the war also had an effect on Tel Aviv, which is only in third place in respect to increased divorce rates. There was only a 4.4 percent increase in divorces in the city this past year.

 

In terms of numbers (and not percentages), the Tel Aviv Regional Rabbinical Court is in the lead for the number of divorces per year. In total, there were 723 couples asking to get divorced last year. The Tel Aviv Regional Rabbinical Court, which also rules over matters in Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, and Givatayim, sees the highest number of divorce cases a year in all of Israel – 3,007 couples.

 

After Tel Aviv follow Jerusalem, with 673 couples, Rishon Letzion, with 411 couples, and fourth on the chart is Haifa with 364 couples.

 

Sanctions imposed on men refusing to divorce 

It was also reported that the special unit of the Rabbinical Courts that deals with agunas (women still bound to their husbands who either refuse to give them a divorce, or are missing, or not proven dead) successfully obtained divorces for 76 women whose husbands disappeared in Israel or abroad.

 

In addition, sanctions were imposed on husbands refusing to divorce their wives in 51 cases. These sanctions include injunctions prohibiting them from leaving the country, blocking access to a bank account, rescinding their drivers' licenses, and denying appointment to public office.

 

Nine arrest warrants were issued against husbands refusing to divorce their wives, and 51 private investigators were hired to locate husbands who refuse to divorce their wives. In addition, 43 restraining orders were issued against husbands who are violent toward or threaten their wives.

 

Ben-Dahan said that a request was made of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to broaden the sanctions against husbands who refuse to give their wives a divorce, which will include freezing government aid to the divorce-refusing husband.

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.15.07, 15:58
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