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Home , Aliza Lavie, Avi Dichter, Bezalel Smotrich, Michal Rozin, Miki Zohar, Miri Regev

A GOVERNMENT IN DENIAL An analysis of the Summer Assembly of the Fourth Session of the 20th reveals a signifcant problem of governability, insofar as it relates to maters of religion and state in , and which is manifested in the strengthening of the monopoly of the Rabbinate, passing the surrogacy law, rejectng civil unions for same-sex couples, and two ministers resigning from a commitee to avoid having to vote in favor of the renovaton of 'Azarat Israel', the egalitarian prayer area at the Western Wall. The disparity between the opinions expressed by MK’s and ministers in private conversatons and their actual votng behavior indicates at worst politcal failure and at best an abdicaton of responsibility. The Summer Assembly Defning Characteristcs

In this concluding report on the Summer Assembly, we Western Wall, the Sabbath, kashrut, conversion, marriage have tried to identfy its defning characteristcs, with and divorce, and religious services in Israel. the help of segmentaton and analysis of more than 640 At the conclusion of the Winter Assembly, the heads of items of informaton that were gathered by the staf the coaliton factons published a leter in which they of The Jewish Pluralism Watch. We compiled our data undertook not to advance legislaton on maters of from more than 500 comments and remarks of Members religion and state, with the excepton of those already of the Knesset (MK’s) on maters of religion and state; pending in the Supreme Court, because the controversy 40 commitees and lobbies that met to discuss these surrounding these issues threatened the stability of the maters; 50 motons and parliamentary queries that coaliton. And indeed in this assembly there was a drop were submited to the Knesset, and 50 bills that were in the number of bills on explicitly religious topics such discussed or submited in the course of the Assembly that as the Sabbath, kashrut and conversion, although the dealt with the issues of gender and LGBT equality, the The Israel Defense Services Law which is pending in the 2 Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset

Supreme Court, contnued to advance and even passed A Government under Pressure its frst reading in the Knesset plenum with the support of the Yesh Atd facton although opposed by the ultra- The low priority assigned to maters of religion and state Orthodox MK’s. The issue of the Western Wall and the by the large coaliton partners, to which we have become renovaton of 'Azarat Israel', the egalitarian prayer area, accustomed, combined with the power of veto of the rose onto the Knesset agenda afer the Prime Minister ultra-Orthodox partes has led to stagnaton and even decided to allocate funds for this purpose, and afer the regression in the advancement of these issues, which in resignaton of the members of the commitee responsible this assembly has reached a new level of absurdity. for the holy places. The Knesset passed the Naton- State Law which contains clauses directly touching on A survey conducted by the Dialogue Insttute for the the status of the relatonship between religion and state, Reform Movement found that 71%of supporters and on pluralism and equality in Israel, such as the clauses support the state’s recogniton of all streams of Judaism relatng to the Sabbath and to the Diaspora, and a clause as opposed to 20% who are against. 66% of Likud encouraging Jewish setlement across Israel. supporters think that the state should invest “signifcant resources” in tes with the Diaspora. 63% reported that Eighteen bills concerning gender and LGBT issues were they would support civil marriage alongside traditonal advanced during the Summer Assembly, on maters marriage through the Rabbinate, with 30% against such as countering discriminaton against the LGBT and 7% with no opinion. 65% of Likud supporters community, adopton, surrogacy and parentng, and civil unions for same-sex couples. More details will appear would support limited operaton of public transport on further on in this report. Saturdays that would avoid passing through areas with a religious majority. Here as well, about a third – 29% - of This report is also accompanied by a tme line, from the the respondents, expressed oppositon, and 7% had no start of the winter recess in March untl the end of the opinion. Summer Assembly on Tisha B’Av, July 22, 2018, along which the most signifcant recent events in the Knesset The events that we cover in this report will point to on the issues of state and religion, pluralism, and equality a trend where government ministers and Knesset are laid out. Members abandon their declared and explicit support for

MK at a meetng of the Chotam organizaton on “The Jewish Family” and against gay families: “We must decide if The Labor, Welfare and Health Commitee convened the State of Israel’s existence will to discuss a government law to extend eligibility be based on a distorted and sick for surrogacy to single mothers, while maintaining set of values or on foundatons of discriminaton against the LGBT community. (Read justce and morality.” (Read more) more)

14.3.2018 10.4.2018 30.4.2018 1.5.2018

The Finance Commitee convened to The “Jewish Law” bill introduced prepare a draf of MK’s Aliza Lavie and by MK ’s bill which seeks to enable passed its second and third secular workers to refuse to work on the readings. The proposal had Sabbath. (Read more) been modifed following critcism from the coaliton. (Read more) Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset 3

Jewish pluralism in favor of maintaining the stability of wars and security issues but no longer. The real discussion the coaliton, which is threatened by the ultra-Orthodox which we have to have is what will happen and what the factons in the Knesset, by votng tme and again and next ten years will be like untl the dismantling of the against the wishes of their electorate, against any Rabbinate’s monopoly.” legislaton or decision which would advance this cause. MK Rachel Azaria also addressed the annual AJC Global Jewish Advocacy Forum which took place this year in The Monopoly of the Rabbinate : “We are working towards dismantling the monopoly of the On June 11, 2018, the Commitee for Immigraton, Rabbinate, but it won’t be easy. It will take us a decade, Absorpton and Diaspora Afairs discussed Jewish but it will happen.” pluralism in the Diaspora. A delegaton of the Jewish Religious Equality Coaliton (JREC) partcipated in the Just one week afer she called to dismantle the Rabbinate’s meetng. The main oppositon MK’s who were present monopoly, MK Azaria actually strengthened the rabbinical pointed out the wide disparity between the positon of the courts when, in a meetng of the Consttuton, Law and majority of the Israeli public regarding Jewish pluralism in Justce Commitee which took place on June 19, 2018, Israel, and actual legislaton, in light of the MK’s conduct she voted in favor of awarding the Israeli rabbinical in these areas. MK Rachel Azaria of the party courts internatonal jurisdicton in maters of divorce: which is a member of the coaliton, said that there is no “We do not want to create another opening for blacklists correlaton between public opinion and actual legislaton (which lists who is halachically forbidden from marrying). on these issues, and called to dismantle the monopoly of The courts must not be allowed to assume illegitmate the Rabbinate: authority, and we have reached a soluton that reduces the “Most Israelis do not respect the Rabbinate and do not possibility of them also taking jurisdicton over property wish to marry within it. Diaspora Jewry feels exactly disputes, custody disputes, etc. We do not wish to say that what Israeli society feels and wishes to see a change, but the Israeli court supersedes any other court in the world. the existng politcal structure does not allow this. As a I believe in the rabbinical court. We are the country in country, we have been preoccupied for a long tme with which there should not be even one woman who has been

The Knesset plenum approved the frst reading of the bill, “Basic Law: Israel The Ministerial Commitee for Legislaton as the Naton-State of the approved MK Bezalel Smotrich’s bill Jewish People” introduced seeking to add an “overriding clause” by MK . to the Basic Law: Human Dignity and (Read more) Liberty. (Read more)

1.5.2018 2.5.2018 6.5.2018 6.5.2018

MK Aliza Lavie’s bill proposing to The State announced that the elect female public representatves rabbinical courts will appoint “profcient in Jewish law” to the women as legal counsel for the rabbinical courts is submited to the frst tme in the history of this state Knesset. (Read more) insttuton. MK Aliza Lavie: “This is an important step toward creatng an egalitarian and more atentve system.” (Read more) 4 Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset

refused a divorce by her husband and I hope for contnuing The Prime Minister pledged his support for such a law cooperaton.” in the future, but did not seek to amend the present discriminatory law.

The Surrogacy Law The Knesset voted on the Surrogacy Law in the last On July 9, 2018, the Labor, Welfare and Health Commitee plenary session of the Summer Assembly on July 18, discussed expanding the Surrogacy Law to include 2018. MK Elie Elalouf who presented the law explained single women, without however extending eligibility to that under the present constellaton of politcal factons in single men and LGBT couples. MK Elie Elalouf (Kulanu), the government it was not possible to extend eligibility for chairman of the commitee responsible for advancing the surrogacy to include single men and gay couples, although, law, explicitly declared his support for surrogacy for all, as a father to an adopted child, he personally sympathized but said that the present structure of the coaliton obliged deeply with the natural desire to have children. MK him to vote in favor of a bill that contnues to discriminate Ohana’s request raised before the plenum to include against single men and same-sex couples. He expressed single men and single fathers in the law, was rejected by a the hope that the law would be changed in the future in large majority, including the Prime Minister who had only favor of the LGBT community. two days previously pledged his support. Later that day the Knesset plenum passed the discriminatory law in its On July 16, 2018, on the eve of the vote at the second second and third readings by a majority of 59 in favor and and third readings of the Surrogacy Law, MK 52 opposed. The Prime Minister voted in favor. announced his oppositon to the bill and said that he had spoken with PM who had expressed his support for surrogacy for single men and for gay couples: “MK Amir Ohana has spoken to me more than once Civil Union for Same-Sex Couples about the Surrogacy Law. He brought up a very simple point: On June 6, 2018, the plenum discussed MK Stav Shafr’s Single mothers have the right to the surrogacy process, but (Zionist Union) proposal for “civil unions” for same-sex single fathers do not have such a right. It is simply not fair and couples. MK who responded in the name of it has to be rectfed.” the government expressed his personal support for such

A dark-skinned mikva (ritual bath) The Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law (Amendment – Compositon atendant’s working hours were of the Electoral Assembly) 2018, was introduced to the reduced following doubts expressed Knesset by female MK’s from various factons. The bill seeks to as to her Jewishness. MK Penina include women in the Electoral Assembly. (Read more) Tamanu-Shata: “The tme has come to break the silence and to fght with all one’s strength against the discriminaton of the rabbinical establishment.” (Read more)

12.5.2018 13.5.2018 21.5.2018 21.5.2018

Israel wins the Eurovision contest MK’s Ksenia Svetlova and the Deputy Minister of Health and Yael Cohen Paran Yakov Litzman informs the Minister of introduced to the Knesset Culture and Sport that his their bill for Registraton of party will not tolerate any desecraton Civil Marriage which seeks of the Sabbath caused by the contest, to allow legal civil marriage which is expected to be held in ceremonies in the southern Jerusalem next year. (Read more) city of Eilat. (Read more) Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset 5

a civil union, but said that the present structure of the of the Western Wall arrangement in 2016 was frozen coaliton obliges him to oppose it, saying from the Knesset as a result of pressure from the ultra-Orthodox partes, podium: the Prime Minister had decided to advance one part of the arrangement - the renovaton and expansion of the “As coalitonal discipline had been imposed, I did not southern extension, 'Azarat Israel' - the executon of which examine the bill in depth, but it is quite likely that if would require the approval of the Ministerial Commitee there had been a free vote, I would have voted in favor for the Holy Places. The members of this commitee, of insttutonalizing the relatonship between same-sex by virtue of their ministerial positons, are the Minister couples. Fifeen, twenty years ago, I opposed same-sex of Sport and Culture Miri Regev, the Minister of Justce marriage or any such arrangement, and I have since , and the Minister of Religious Services changed my opinion and today I support resolving this David Azoulay. mater. It is both civilly and morally right to do so, and it is also a mater of conscience.” Following the announcement that the decision for renovatng 'Azarat Israel' was in the hands of the ministerial Minister of Energy MK Steinitz subsequently voted against commitee, Yaki Adamker, a journalist, reported that the the law and it was rejected with 41 opposed and 38 in Minister of Culture Miri Regev had met with the Sephardic favor, leaving in place the discriminaton against the LGBT Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, and with community. members of Ateret Cohanim (a Jerusalem organizaton that works for the creaton of a Jewish majority in the Old City Renovaton of 'Azarat Israel' at the and in the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem), Mattyahu (Mat) Dan and Mordechai Benita (a Likud actvist), to Western Wall discuss the issue of the renovaton. When the news of The patern of behavior of ministers and MK’s who do not the meetng became known, the CEO of the Conservatve follow through on promises seemed to reach new levels Movement in North America Rabbi Steven Wernick’s ofce over the authorizaton of renovatons to 'Azarat Israel', requested a meetng with Minister Regev to communicate the southern extension of the Western Wall designated to her the voice of Conservatve Jewry which frequently for egalitarian prayer. Afer the government’s approval uses the southern secton. While Rabbi Wernick’s ofce

The Bet Israel Conservatve synagogue in was The Lobby of Religion and State vandalized three tmes during convened to discuss conversions and the last month. MK Yael Cohen the formulaton of the State Conversion Paran: “I am a member of Law, with the partcipaton of private the Conservatve movement conversion insttutes and retred Judge and any harm done to my Elyakim Rubinstein. community causes me great (Read more) pain.” (Read more)

23.5.2018 23.5.2018 29.5.2018 3.6.2018

The Minister of Justce Ayelet Former Minister of Justce Moshe Shaked at the Annual Conference Nissim submits the conclusions of the of the Haredi Insttute for Public commitee which he chaired, formulatng Afairs: “If gender separaton is the recommendatons for a state conversion preconditon for integratng the law. The Prime Minister: “We contnue ultra-Orthodox into the work force, I to search for solutons that strengthen am willing to pay the price.” (Picture: unity between the Jewish people in Ayelet Shaked) (Read more) Israel and in the Diaspora.” (Read more) 6 Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset

was awaitng a reply from the Minister of Culture’s ofce, On July 1, 2018, the Minister of Justce MK Ayelet Shaked, Minister Regev announced to the media on June 27, 2018, announced her resignaton from the commitee so as not that she would be resigning her positon as chairperson of to have to approve the renovaton of 'Azarat Israel'. the Ministerial Commitee for the Holy Places because her conscience would not allow her to support a mixed gender It was reported on February 7, 2016 that during a prayer area: discussion in the Knesset plenum, the Minister of Justce had actually praised the proposed plan for 'Azarat Israel', “I am unable to authorize an arrangement for the Wall that which according to her had been initated by her partner will upset the status quo. The Reform Movement’s demand in the facton, Minister of Educaton MK Nafali Bennet: to turn the Wall into a place where men and women pray together is unacceptable to me and to Jewish traditon.” “Implementaton of the plan will put an end to the dispute between the sides concerned – a very serious dispute that Following this patern of fip-fopping, a notce on the could lead to bloodshed at the most important religious JPW website from 2013 reveals that Regev, who then site of the Jewish people, and also to a change in the chaired the Internal Afairs and Environment Commitee, current situaton at the Western Wall….Friends, because had visited the women’s prayer area at the Western Wall, of baseless hatred, Jerusalem was destroyed. What the where she undertook to actvely promote the mixed- government has done here is good. It is important that we gender area: live together in peace, and under the circumstances this plan is a reasonable one.” “Our job is to fnd a soluton and a compromise – as the ultra-Orthodox and the Conservatves wish to pray Later that month the third member of the Commitee separately at the Wall, so do wish to for Holy Places, the Minister of Religious Services David pray in accordance with their customs. To prevent the Azoulay, also resigned from the commitee. recurrence of these events at the next Rosh Chodesh {prayers held at the beginning of each month of the Hebrew calendar} we must prepare a place for mixed- gender prayer, where all can pray each according to their own customs.”

The Jewish Pluralism Watch presents an easy-to-read infographic summary of the Nissim Commitee report. (Read more) A survey conducted by Channel 10 News shows that 47 MK’s support same-sex marriages, 12 MK’s oppose it and 61 MK’s refused to answer. MK : “The tme has come for this government to realize that it is 2018.” (Read more)

3.6.2018 5.6.2018 5.6.2018 6.6.2018

In response to the conversion Five bills submited by the Zionist Union recommendatons, MK Israel were not approved by the coaliton, including Eichler announced that he the Civil Union for Same-Sex Couples bill would advance a bill for introduced by MK Stav Shafr. Minister of establishing a genealogy Energy Yuval Steinitz: “It is highly likely that database to be administered if a free vote had been allowed on the bill by the Chief Rabbinate. that seeks to insttutonalize the relatonship between same-sex couples – I would have (Read more) supported it.” (Read more) Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset 7

So what do we have? The Numbers that Tell the Story of the Summer Assembly

Breakdown of Comments councils, the Chief Rabbinate and the rabbinical courts (83 The most talked-about topics – religious services, religious comments), followed by gender and LGBT issues in the councils and the Chief Rabbinate context of religion and state in Israel (79), the Israel Defense Services Law that passed its frst reading (63), the Western If the most talked-about topic in the Winter Assembly was Wall and the renovaton of the mixed-gender prayer area the Sabbath, in the Summer Assembly this has moved 'Azarat Israel' (46), marriage and divorce (46), Israel’s down into seventh place and replaced at the top of the relatons with Diaspora Jewry (38) and only afer these the list by the issues relatng to religious services, the religious Sabbath appears with 36 comments from a total of 506.

Distributon by subject: Religious services, Religious councils and the Chief Rabbinate 83 Gender and LGBT 79 The Israel Defense Services Law 63 The Western Wall 46 Marriage and divorce 46 The Diaspora 38 The Sabbath 36 Who is a Jew 29 Conversion 25 Kashrut 18 The Naton-State Law 18 Religious freedom 17 Miscellaneous 8

In a discussion in the Commitee for Immigraton, Internally-conducted research fnds that more Absorpton and Diaspora Afairs in which a than half of couples who married in a private delegaton from the Jewish Religious ceremony outside the Rabbinate in 2017 could Equality Commission (JREC) partcipated, have married within the Rabbinate but chose MK Rachel Azaria said: “Most Israelis do not to do so. MK : “This is further not respect the rabbinical establishment proof that the Israeli public is fed up with the and would not want to be married within Rabbinate and with religious coercion.” it.” (Read more) (Read more)

11.6.2018 11.6.2018 14.6.2018 18.6.2018

MK Bezalel Smotrich submits his proposal for the The Knesset plenum approves in Chief Military Rabbi bill: He will hold the rank of its second and third readings a bill general; he will be directly subordinate to the Chief introduced by MK’s Aliza Lavie and of Staf; he will not be subject to the authority of his Miki Zohar which seeks to enable commanding ofcers in maters of halacha; he will secular workers to refuse to work be an ordained rabbi and will answer to the Chief on the Sabbath. Rabbinate; he will have completed his compulsory (Read more) army service. (Read more) 8 Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset

The Most Vocal Facton – the Zionist Union

Analysis of the distributon of comments by Knesset factons shows that the most vocal facton, on issues of religion and state in commitees, in the plenum, on social networks and in the media was the Zionist Union, with 105 comments out of the total of 506. Behind the Zionist Union come the Likud with around 74 comments, Yesh Atd and Jewish Home with 60 comments each and with 55 comments.

Distributon by party

105 Zionist Union

74 Likud

62 Jewish Home

61 Yesh Atd

55 Meretz

44 United Judaism

43 Kulanu

38

19 Yisrael Beitenu

5 The

Barkan Winery removed workers of Ethiopian origin from wine producton Defying Prime Minister for reasons of kashrut. MK Yuli Netanyahu’s choice, the Edelstein: “It is hard to believe that nominaton commitee of the there is one Jew who would refuse to Board of Governors of the drink wine made by Jews of Ethiopian Jewish Agency recommended origin.” (Read more) MK as the next Chairman of the Executve of the Jewish Agency. (Read more)

19.6.2018 21.6.2018 21.6.2018 25.6.2018

The Consttuton, Law and Justce Commitee approved Female passengers on an fight were the government bill “Jurisdicton of the Rabbinical forced to switch seats afer ultra-Orthodox Courts,” originally introduced by MK Aliza Lavie, which men had refused to sit next to them. grants the courts internatonal authority in maters of MK Merav Michaeli: “If you haven’t yet divorce. MK Rachel Azaria: “I have faith in the rabbinical understood, we must not agree to gender court. There ought not to be even one woman who has separaton in exchange for ‘integraton’. been refused a divorce in this country and I look forward There can be no integraton while there is to further cooperaton.” (Read more) separaton.” (Read more) Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset 9

Most Vocal MK’s on Issues of State and Religion

MK Aliza Lavie from Yesh Atd was the most vocal MK in commitees, on social networks and in the media, with 35 comments on issues of state and religion. Next on the list are MK Michal Rozin (23) and MK Bezalel Smotrich (22,) followed by MK’s Rachel Azaria and with 16 comments each.

Aliza Lavie 35

Michal Rozin Bezalel 23 Smotrich 22 Rachel Tamar Nafali Azaria Zandberg Merav Moshe Mossi Bennet Yael Cohen 16 16 Michaeli Gafni Raz 15 Paran 14 13 13 12

The Commitee for Immigraton, Absorpton and Diaspora Afairs convened to discuss discriminaton against Conservatve converts on the basis of the color of their skin and their A private kashrut organizaton starts country of origin, with special reference to the an enterprise for conductng orthodox Ministry of the Interior’s demand to deport marriages outside the Rabbinate. MK Yosef Kibita who had sought to immigrate to Bezalel Smotrich appealed to the State Israel from Uganda. MK Avraham Neguise: Atorney Shai Nitzan claiming that the “Do black converts require closer examinaton organizaton was advocatng violaton of than others?” (Read more) the law. (Read more)

25.6.2018 28.6.2018 28.6.2018 29.6.2018

Minister of Culture and Sport MK Miri Regev resigns as chairperson of the A bill introduced by MK Bezalel Ministerial Commitee for the Holy Places so as not to approve the renovaton of Smotrich in 2015 is brought 'Azarat Israel'. “The demands of the Reform community to turn the Western Wall before the Ministerial Commitee: into a place where women and men pray together is unacceptable to me and to A business is permited to Jewish traditon.” Despite the fact that, discriminate on the basis of ethnic in 2013 as chairperson of the Internal origin, religion, gender or sexual Afairs and Environment Commitee, orientaton, if this is necessitated she had undertaken to create a mixed- by the owner’s religious beliefs. gender prayer area. (Read more) (Read more) 10 Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset

Commitee breakdown regarding religion and state issues

The Commitee for Immigraton, Absorpton and Diaspora Afairs chaired by MK Avraham Neguise was the most actve commitee. A total of 39 discussions were held in commitees on maters of state and religion during the Summer Assembly, with the Commitee for Immigraton, Absorpton and Diaspora Afairs topping the list with 8 diferent discussions concerning the relatonship with Diaspora Jewry, recogniton of non-Orthodox conversions, and discriminaton against immigrants from the former Soviet Union by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for Religious Services. The Special Commitee for Advancing the Naton-State Law chaired by MK Amir Ohana held 7 discussions on topics of state and religion, followed by the Finance Commitee with 6 discussions on the bill Hours of Work and Rest, and the queston of budgetng for the religious councils. The Special Commitee for the Advancement of the Israel Defense Services Law convened 6 tmes in two weeks.

Commitee for Immigraton, Special Special Absorpton Commitee Commitee and Diaspora for the for the Afairs Naton-State Israel 8 Law Defense 7 Services Finance Law Commitee Special 6 6 Consttuton, The Labor, Commitee for the Law and Welfare Internal Transparency Justce and Health Afairs and and Commitee Commitee Accessibility Environment The State Economic 3 3 Commitee of Control Afairs Government Knesset 2 Commitee Commitee Informaton Commitee 1 1 1 1

The Foreign Ministry posts a video clip on social Afer the resignaton of the two ministers networks advertsing “alternatve marriages” from the Ministerial Commitee for including a non-Orthodox ceremony. MK the Holy Places, the Knesset approves Yinon Azoulay (Shas): “Enough with recognizing transferring the commitee’s mandate to the streams (of Judaism) whose members’ the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Jewishness is in doubt and whose only goal is to Energy. 48 voted in favor and only MK undermine the foundatons of Judaism.” Smotrich opposed the moton. (Read more) (Read more)

1.7.2018 1.7.2018 3.7.2018 8.7.2018

The Minister of Justce MK Ayelet Shaked submits her In an atempt to delay the resignaton from the Ministerial Commitee for the Holy Places approval for the renovaton of so as not to approve the renovaton of 'Azarat Israel'. The 'Azarat Israel', the Minister of Prime Minister announces that he will assume responsibility Religious Services David Azoulay for the commitee and is joined by MK Yuval Steinitz. Despite (Shas) also submited his the fact that in 2016, the Minister of Justce explicitly resignaton from the Ministerial supported the plan for the Western Wall and even presented it Commitee for the Holy Places. in the Knesset: “Implementaton of the plan will bring an end (Read more) to the disagreements between all involved partes.” Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset 11

Breakdown of Proposed Bills Gender and LGBT – the highest number of bills that were introduced or advanced during the course of the assembly 18 diferent bills were introduced in the course of the assembly on the subject of gender and LGBT issues, of which two were introduced by the coaliton: one by MK Bezalel Smotrich which sought to allow a business to discriminate against a person when giving services on the basis of sexual orientaton, gender, religion, ethnic origin or natonality (which did not reach the Knesset). Another bill introduced by the coaliton which sought to extend eligibility for surrogacy to single women, while maintaining the discriminaton in the law against single men and same-sex couples – passed its second and third readings and was passed into law. Conversely, 16 diferent bills which sought to change the existng situaton in these areas were introduced. 9 bills sought to prevent discriminaton on the basis of sexual orientaton or gender; 5 sought to allow surrogacy and adopton for same- sex couples, and two bills sought to permit same-sex marriage under the ttle “civil union”. MK ’s bill prohibitng discriminaton on the basis of sexual orientaton or gender identty passed in a preliminary hearing.

Distributon by subject Gender and LGBT

18 Gender and LGBT 10 Religious services, religious councils and the Chief Rabbinate Prohibitng 9 Marriage and divorce discriminaton 9 2 The Sabbath 2 Natonality Discriminaton in surrogacy 1 2 Kashrut Adopton and 1 Who is a Jew Permitng discriminaton 1 parenthood 5 1 The Diaspora 2 1 Miscellaneous Same-sex couples

A poll conducted by the Dialogue The Chief Rabbinical Council sent a leter to the Insttute shows that approximately Minister of Religious Services, David Azoulay, two thirds of Likud supporters are demanding to advance a law which would grant in favor of civil marriage, public The Chief Rabbinate of Israel exclusive jurisdicton transport on the Sabbath and of over the whole length of the Western Wall and recognizing the diferent streams which would prevent the Reform and Conservatve in Judaism. MK Yael Cohen Paran: movements from praying at the southern end of “The Likud MK’s have ceased to the Wall. Minister Azoulay passed on the leter represent their electorate.” to the Minister of Justce and demanded her (Read more) response. (Read more)

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The Leader of the Oppositon MK Isaac (“Bougie”) Herzog Following an amendment to clause 6b of the in his partng speech from the Knesset prior to taking Naton-State Law, concerning Israel’s relatonship ofce as Chairman of the Jewish Agency: “I implore you with Diaspora Jewry, the outgoing Chairman of the to understand and appreciate Jabotnsky’s words on Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky sent a leter to the Jewish people and its ways, and to understand and the chairman of the commitee responsible for the appreciate the existence of ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Babylon’ and Naton-State Law MK Amir Ohana asking him to the need for a dialogue between the two large communites invite representatves of Diaspora Jewry to address in Israel and in North America!” (Read more) the commitee. (Read more) 12 Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset

MK’s Who Introduced the Highest Number of Bills

Aliza Lavie 8

Yael German 4

Bezalel Smotrich Yael Cohen Paran Michal Rozin Merav Michaeli Nissan Smoliansky Ksenia Svetlova Rachel Azaria 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

The Joint Commitee of the Knesset The Surrogacy Law which discriminates against Commitee and the Consttuton, Law single fathers and LGBT couples was approved by and Justce Commitee convened for the Knesset plenum in its second and third readings the fourth tme to discuss requests for by a majority of 59-52 and has been passed into law. amendments to the Naton-State Law. Earlier, MK Ohana’s amendment to extend eligibility MK Revital Swid: This law will cause under the law to men as well had been rejected, a deep rif with the minorites in Israel with Netanyahu, who had pledged to support this and with Diaspora Jewry.” (Read more) amendment, votng against it. (read more)

12.7.2018 16.7.2018 17.7.2018 18.7.2018

MK Amir Ohana announced that he would The Secular Lobby convened to discuss request an amendment to the Surrogacy religious indoctrinaton in the IDF. Law that would enable access to surrogacy MK Tamar Zandberg: “The IDF is the for single fathers in Israel. Prime Minister people’s army and it is not the army Benjamin Netanyahu: “I will support such of the . Its purpose an amendment to the law.” (Read more) is to protect the country, not to be religiously observant.” (Read more) Summer Assembly - 2018 - the 20th Knesset 13

The Most Actve Facton in Legislaton - Yesh Atd

When the data on the proposed bills are divided according to the factons that submited most of the bills discussed during the assembly, it appears that Yesh Atd, as in the Winter Assembly, introduced the largest number of bills – 17, followed by the Zionist Union with 13 and then the remainder of the factons that introduced and advanced a small number of bills relatng to state and religion.

17 Yesh Atd

13 Zionist Union

4 Jewish Home

4 Meretz

2 Yisrael Beitenu

2 Likud

1

1 Joint List

1 Kulanu

1 Shas

2 Government

The Knesset Commitee voted to A politcal storm followed the elect members to the Electoral arrest of Rabbi Dov Haiyun, Assembly for the Chief Rabbinical the rabbi of the Conservatve Council. MK’s Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atd), Moriah Congregaton in Haifa, for Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Jewish Home), ofciatng at a wedding ceremony Miki Zohar (Likud), Yakov Asher done according to Jewish law (United Torah Judaism) and Yoav Ben outside of the auspices of the Chief Tzur (Shas) were elected. (Read more) Rabbinate of Israel. (Read more)

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The bill “Basic Law: The State The Summer Assembly of the of Israel as the Naton-State of Fourth Session of the 20th the Jewish People” known as the Knesset has concluded, and the “Naton-State Law” introduced by Knesset has lef for the summer MK Dichter passed in its second recess. The Fifh Session and the and third readings with a majority Winter Assembly will open on of 62-55, and has passed into law. October 14, 2018. (Read more) Jewish Pluralism Watch monitors Israeli elected ofcials’ positons, statements, legislatve initatves and votng records with regard to maters of state and religion in Israel. www.mishmar.org.il