(Israeli) Housing Ministry to Grant Recognition to Same-Sex Couples
(Israeli) Housing Ministry to Grant Recognition to Same-Sex Couples
By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent
Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Herzog announced Tuesday that his ministry will recognize same-sex couples with children as a family for purposes of receiving housing aid.
Until now, the ministry had authorized aid only to married coupled, couples signed a statement promising to wed within three months, and couples who are known throughout the community as having reared a child together.
Herzog has instructed the ministry to grant the same recognition to same-sex couples as it does with heterosexual partners.
"This is a breakthrough that is based on our desire to create an equal, enlightened society that sees all parents, even same-sex ones, as eligible according to the principles of Israeli law," Herzog said.
Herzog’s announcement is one in a chain of similar decisions concerning equal rights for same-sex couples, among them the recent decision by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to recognize same-sex partners for purposes of inheritance rights.
This Article appeared on April 14, 2005 in www.haaretz.com