News

By Gudrun Schultz

JERUSALEM, May 31, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Supreme Court of Israel will not decide on the legality of three same-sex “marriages” that took place in Canada until further deliberation has taken place, after a recent hearing.

The couples who brought the case to court want their unions recognized by the Israeli government, arguing that heterosexual couples married overseas are acknowledged by the Ministry even if they would not have been able to marry within the country.

Israeli law does not recognize same-sex unions. Orthodox rabbis, who are opposed to same-sex marriages, perform Israeli wedding ceremonies. Gaining government recognition of marriages performed out of country would allow homosexual Jewish couples to bypass that obstacle.

Justice Rubinstein, one of seven judges to hear the case, questioned what specific rights were granted to married couples in Israel that were not currently available to the plaintiffs. Onn Stock, lawyer for two of the couples, identified tax and welfare benefits, the right of hospital visitation and protection from testifying against a spouse as the primary rights sought after by the couples.

Just last week a Jerusalem District Court ordered the city to pay more than CAD$80,000 to the Gay and Lesbian Center, after the center filed suit against the city for discrimination. The city had withdrawn funding from the center in 2003. The case was the city’s second loss to activists in less than a year. Last June Jerusalem officials lost a court case charging the municipality with discrimination after the city banned an annual gay pride demonstration.

Homosexual activists have targeted Jerusalem as next year’s venue for the international demonstration WorldPride, a weeklong event celebrating the homosexual lifestyle. Religious leaders worldwide have condemned organizers for foisting the event on a city revered as holy by believers from multiple faiths.
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See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Court Orders Jerusalem to Fund Homosexual Activist Organization
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06053001.html

Israeli Same-Sex Marriage Case Goes to Supreme Court
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06040606.html