Israelis protest state decision to bar adoption by same-sex couples
After announcing heterosexual couples joined in civil union to be allowed to adopt, the state draws fire from the LGBT community and its supporters for 'humiliating and insulting' decision to continue ban on adopting by same-sex couples; as Israel currently does not allow same-sex marriage, the decision effectively bans them from adopting; following outcry, Welfare Min. asks court to re-examine decision.
Israelis continued to take to social media, after the state informed the High Court of Justice on Sunday that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Welfare have formulated a professional position that they will allow common-law couples to adopt children for the first time, provided they maintain a stable household for at least three years.
However, while heterosexual couples joined in civil union will be allowed to adopt, there will be no change in the ban on same-sex couples joined in civil union who wish to adopt.
"The position of professionals in the Service for the Child now supports the preservation of the existing situation, with regard to favoring a couple that is a man and a woman, taking into account the reality in Israeli society and the difficulty it may entail in relation to the child being adopted," the state said in a statement.
Currently, Israeli law allows only married couples who are men and women to adopt children. As Israel does not have same-sex marriage, Sunday's decision blocks same-sex couples from all options that are recognized when seeking to adopt.
The state's position caused a storm among supports of LGBT rights, prompting Israeli LGBT celebrities to denounce the decision as "humiliating and insulting."
The Welfare Ministry, headed by Minister Haim Katz, responded to the criticism by stating, "Unfortunately, the wording that was presented to the High Court of Justice was a failed attempt that should not have been said: The minister has no intention of preventing or denying the ability to adopt from one group or another." Katz, however, did not change the decision.
On Tuesday, Katz announced that he would ask the High Court of Justice to "review the issue of adoption by same-sex couples, so that the professionals will re-examine the matter and take into account all the considerations at hand."
Following this, a hearing on the matter was postponed until September. The state announced that it will reexamine the issue and submit an updated position by September 10.
Famous Israeli singer-songwriter Harel Skaat even calling on members of the community to not enlist to the IDF, pay bills or do anything demanded of them by the county until the receive the same rights as any other citizen.
Skaat posted a livid message on Facebook to the younger members of his audience after the decision was made public.
"As an Israeli who loves his country and is proud to be a Jew and talks about it on every stage of the world, who proudly served in the army, whose partner is a major in the IDF and serves almost a month every year to this day (as a reservist), I call on you to not join the army!
"And you know what; don't even pay taxes on the money you will start earning soon. In general, any duty that the state asks you to fulfill just simply don't give a f***, because that how your country feels regarding the equal rights that you deserve. Go and disperse all the good that you have to give in places that accept you and not in places that don't."
Many other celebrities backed Skaat's statement, calling it "brave" and rejecting any criticism that he promotes draft-dodging which they deemed "absurd," saying he has the right to express his frustration at the government as "those who do not receive their rights as a citizen should not be expected to fulfill their duties as a citizen."
