Israel's government plans to introduce into the Knesset a limited civil marriage bill according to reports yesterday by the Jerusalem Post and Y-Net News. The bill, drafted by Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit, will permit civil marriage in Israel only between Israeli citizens who are defined as non-Jews according to Orthodox Jewish law and who do not belong to any other religion. It will have the odd effect of requiring individuals to prove that they are not Jews in order to take advantage of the bill's provisions. The new law will not permit civil marriages between Jews and non-Jews, nor will it permit Jews to marry in Israel in ceremonies performed by Conservative or Reform rabbis, or by civil authorities. The move comes as part of an agreement for Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu Party to join the Kadima-led coalition government. (Y-Net News.)
The main beneficiaries of the new law will be many Russian immigrants to Israel who cannot prove to rabbinic authorities that they are Jewish under Orthodox rabbinic standards. This approach has the backing of Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and the Shas religious party, since it does not conflict with Jewish religious law. However some rabbis fear that this is merely a first step to permitting civil marriages between Jews and non-Jews.
