Majority In Israel Support Gay Couple Rights
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
A new poll shows that despite a vocal opposition to gays by orthodox religious groups the majority of Israeli’s believe same-sex couples should have rights similar to those of married couples.
The survey, by the German-based Friedrich Naumann Foundation, asked adult Israelis whether gay and lesbian couples should be afforded pension and survivorship rights.
Fifty-sex percent said it is either good or necessary.
Twenty-three percent said it is a "very good" idea, 22 percent said it is "somewhat good" and 11 percent said it was "not good but necessary.
Thirty-sex percent of those polled said it was "not good" with 9 percent unsure.
Same-sex couples have been slowly gaining recognition in Israel. In 2005 Israel’s Family Court for the first time recognized a same-sex couple as the joint parents of their children. Click here for story.
Last November the Supreme Court ordered the government to register the marriages of same-sex couples married abroad in countries that recognize such unions. Click here for story.
The high court ruling only directs the government to record the marriages for the purpose of collecting statistics. It does not require that the marriage receive official recognition or that the couples receive any of the rights of marriage.
Marriage under Israeli law is the monopoly of rabbis. There is no civil marriage in Israel.
For the past two years members of an extreme Orthodox sect, the haredi, have rioted in advance of gay pride celebrations in Jerusalem.
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada and South Africa. At least 18 other countries offer some form of legal recognition to same sex unions.
365Gay.com