Opposition Urges Netanyahu: Recognize Gay Rights in Israel

Opposition Knesset members used Tuesday’s plenary session to call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to openly take a stand on granting equal rights to the gay community in Israel.

As members of the LGBT community demonstrated outside the Knesset, MKs from the Labor Party and Meretz criticized the coalition for failing to pass legislation that would address this issue.

MK Stav Shaffir (Labor) noted the results of a survey conducted by Haaretz showing that 70% of the public supports granting full and equal rights to gays. "This government does not support the community. Whereas 70 percent of the population lives in 2013, the government straggles behind, caught somewhere in the 19th century," she said.

Shaffir listed the failed legislative initiatives thus far: “My bill, which proposed allowing same-sex couples to have recognized civil unions, was rejected by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation; a similar proposal by Yesh Atid disappeared since their last press conference. A prohibition on discrimination in hiring based on gender and a bill aimed at equalizing mortgage terms for same-sex couples were also rejected.”

MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz), the first openly gay Israeli lawmaker,  also assailed the prime minister: “In almost every major speech he’s given overseas in the last few years, he has used the LGTB community in Israel as a means to attack Iran. For that purpose we’re okay, showcasing Israel as a liberal paradise. I ask the prime minister what he has done to address the issue here. The truth is that for the last five years, during which he has headed the government, any advancement of the gay community toward full and equal legal rights has been frozen.”

Mk Miki Rosenthal (Labor) addressed Netanyahu, who was not present: “Mr. Prime Minister, why is it acceptable for you to say ‘gay’ in English, whereas you have never used the word ‘homosexual’ in any of your speeches? Why is ‘gay community’ acceptable but not ‘LGT’?”

MK Michal Biran (Labor) turned to Social Affairs Minister Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid), who was present, and said: “One small thing you could do for this community lies in your hands − prevent the discrimination against gay couples when it comes to adoption. They are labeled as single-parent families and thus find themselves always at the bottom of the waiting list. Only if no suitable heterosexual couples are found do they stand a chance to adopt, even though abundant research has shown that homosexual parents and the home they provide are just as good as heterosexual parents? I urge you to address this challenge − it is something that is under your jurisdiction. We can’t blame Habayit Hayehudi if this doesn’t happen.”

MK Shelly Yacimovich (Labor) said that “no one ever pinned their hopes on Habayit Hayehudi as a party that would advance gay rights. We had no illusions on this matter. However, we have a new horizon opening up here with a real political potential, an unusual opportunity to collaborate, without involvement of egos or credit seeking. The Labor Party, Yesh Atid, Meretz, Hatnua and parts of Likud and Hadash can get together as a majority and advance real rights and full equality for this community.”