Posted on 02/14/22
| News Source: JPost
Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana is considering allowing Israelis to hold civil marriage ceremonies in foreign diplomatic missions in Israel, Channel 12’s Yair Cherki reported on Monday.
In a dramatic breakthrough that may enable civil marriage in the Jewish state, Cherki reported that there are negotiations between the centrist Yesh Atid Party and Kahana, a member of the right-wing Yamina Party.
Internal coalition negotiations have been ongoing regarding dramatic changes in the status quo in matters of religion and state. Kahana told Yesh Atid officials that he would agree to the approval of civil marriages at foreign consulates in Israel in exchange for repealing the “grandchild amendment” of the Law of Return.
The Law of Return was passed in 1950 and entitles Jews the right to relocate to Israel and acquire Israeli citizenship. Section 1 of the law declares that “Every Jew has the right to come to this country as an oleh [immigrant].” In 1970, the right of entry and settlement was extended to people with one Jewish grandparent or to any person married to a Jew, whether or not they are considered Jewish under Orthodox interpretations of Jewish law.
“There are many liberal initiatives from the liberal side to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation that minister Kahana was the one who prevented them from being voted on,” a source close to Kahana explained to The Jerusalem Post.