Moshe Ya’alon says country needs to give citizens the right to choose their partner for life.

Last week, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said he didn’t think Israel would approve such a measure, but he himself would reconsider his position on gay marriage. Agriculture minister Noked also declared she supports such kind of marriage.

Local LGBT groups hope Israel follows Obama's footsteps-

Gay community hopes for change in Israeli policy on same-sex marriage following US president's encouraging statement on the matter



A high-level minister came out in support of same-sex marriage in Israel on Monday.

Speaking to Army Radio Monday morning, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya’alon said he believed such decisions were personal and the government should “give people the freedom to choose.”

The former chief of staff, who is often characterized as a hard-liner on security issues, said there was a partial precedent for this, in that the IDF recognized partners of the same sex for the purpose of common-law marriages. Not every personal choice needs to be approved by the rabbinate, said Ya’alon, who sits in the prime minister’s high-level inner cabinet.

Legislation to recognize civilian and gay marriages in Israel that was submitted by MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) will be voted on in the Knesset later this week.

Last week, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said he didn’t think Israel would approve such a measure, but he himself would reconsider his position on gay marriage.

The topic of gay marriages made headlines recently when President Barack Obama spoke out openly in favor of the issue. On Monday, Newsweek called Obama America’s first gay president.

All marital affairs within the state are currently controlled by the religious establishments — Jews marry through the rabbinate, while Christian and Muslim citizens can tie the knot at their religious institutions.

Because of this status quo there are a few groups who can’t legally get married in Israel, including members of the gay community who aren’t recognized by any official religious institution in the country.

Common-law marriages have been recognized for specific monetary purposes, and civil marriages from abroad are recognized retroactively by the authorities, meaning gay marriages that take place outside Israel are recognized by the state.

The push for full recognition and official civil marriages within Israel has been ongoing for years, but it has yet to pass the test of legislation.




Encouraged by President Barack Obama's words on Wednesday, in which he declared his belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married, the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community in Israel is hoping that Israeli leaders will take a similar position on the issue, which will allow thousands in the community to get married.




"Israel preceded the US in recognizing same-sex marriages performed abroad," said former MK Prof. Uzi Even, who was the first openly gay lawmaker in Israel.



"Maybe the newly-formed unity government will settle the issue, allowing Israel to become like one of the other progressive European countries," said Even.




Dr. Gal Wagner Kolasko who runs the LGBT health clinic in Tel Aviv said he believes that the same-sex marriage issue will only be resolved through the judicial system. "Unfortunately, the law in Israel only permits religious marriage and not a civil one," he said.



"The current political balance of power is not one where this kind of issue has much of a chance. That is why we hope the judicial system will work towards permitting same-sex marriage in Israel. The 'new kind of family' already exists, and it's time for it to be officially recognized," he exclaimed.



Prof. Esther Hertzog, an anthropologist from the Beit Berl Academic College, said that same-sex marriage is "a necessity in a modern and progressive country such as Israel."






http://www.timesofisrael.com/moshe-yaalon-supports-same-sex-marriage-in-israel/



http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/1.1705534



http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4227622,00.html