Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 18, 2009 Adar 22, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:13 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Yisrael Beiteinu compromises on civil marriage, loyalty oath By Mazal Mualem and Yair Ettinger Yisrael Beiteinu signed a coalition agreement with Likud late Sunday night, but the agreement gives the party little to boast of on its two flagship campaign issues - instituting civil marriage and requiring all citizens to take a loyalty oath. It does, however, facilitate establishment of a narrow rightist government, since it contains nothing the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties would find unacceptable. Both Shas and United Torah Judaism objected vehemently to Yisrael Beiteinu's original demands on both civil marriage and conversion. Yesterday, however, both parties praised the agreement, saying they would have no problem signing it. Advertisement The agreement makes no mention of the loyalty oath. Instead, it merely pledges that the government will combat disloyal behavior by enacting legislation that deprives convicted spies and terrorists of government welfare payments and other benefits. And instead of promising enactment of a civil marriage law, the agreement merely states that within 60 days of the government's establishment, the prime minister will appoint a task force comprised of representatives of every coalition party to discuss ways to solve the problem of some 300,000 people who cannot marry via the official rabbinate. The panel will submit its conclusions within 15 months. In addition, the government will pass legislation allowing non-Jews to marry each other in a civil ceremony. Yisrael Beiteinu's demand to change the system of government was also watered down: Instead of moving to a presidential system, the agreement merely pledges minor reforms of the existing system - for instance, requiring at least 55 MKs instead of 50 to pass a private member's bill with budgetary implications. At the party's insistence, the agreement does include an explicit promise to work to topple the Hamas government in Gaza. It also includes some measures designed to streamline the conversion process - for instance, by allowing municipal rabbinical courts to perform conversions instead of only special conversion courts, which have been largely paralyzed by disagreements between Haredi and religious Zionist rabbis. This clause, however, may never be implemented, since the move is conditional on the Chief Rabbinate's approval, and the rabbinate is currently dominated by Haredi rabbis who oppose the moderate approach to conversion favored by some municipal rabbis. Tomer Zarchin adds: Meanwhile, a police representative told the High Court of Justice yesterday that the alleged crimes for which Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman is under investigation are still going on. A prosecution representative added that Lieberman would soon be questioned in the case for the first time. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Dicey move Pentagon chief says Israeli attack on Iran would endanger Mideast. Shalit swap Gaza families do not know who Israel will free for Gilad Shalit.

Read & React Bradley Burston / The racist Israeli fascist in me Responses: 136 Ashkenazi in U.S.: IDF must prepare to strike Iran Responses: 80 Amira Hass: Israel gave its soldiers a free hand to attack Gaza civilians Responses: 50 Olmert: Hamas demands for Shalit are unacceptable Responses: 50 More Headlines 22:50 'Hamas demands for Shalit are unacceptable' 23:47 Who are the deadly terrorists Israel refuses to release for Shalit? 18:34 Olmert tells Shalit family: I won't give up fight for Gilad's release 20:42 Criticism of Israel dropped from Durban II draft resolution 21:58 U.S. official: Iran increasing pro-Hezbollah activity in South America 23:24 'Israel may drop bid to incorporate own know-how into F-35 fighter' 22:01 Jewish group: Dialogue with Muslims more urgent than ties with Vatican 10:51 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 23:58 U.S. seeks to seize assets of Madoff's wife and sons 23:28 Palestinian caught in high-speed chase at B-G Airport last month 18:08 Report: Israeli defense official denied visa to U.S. 22:03 Portugal urges EU to pressure Israel over settlement expansion 20:02 Study: Israel may attack Iran nuclear sites with ballistic missiles 21:25 Egypt nabs two Hamas officials trying to slip $850,000 into Gaza 22:06 Lieberman hopeful new government will be finalized by Monday 18:37 Did the Jewish sect which wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls really exist? Previous Editions Select Day 17 mar 16 mar 15 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 08 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ Dead Sea Skin Care Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off! Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved