BICOM

Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation yesterday gave its backing to proposed legislation which would expand Israel’s surrogacy services to singles and same-sex couples.

Seven of the 12 committee members voted in favour of the bill which was suggested in December by Yesh Atid’s Health Minister Yael German. The legislation is based mainly on the recommendations of the Mor-Yosef Committee, established in 2010 to reform the surrogacy process, which has until now allowed only heterosexual couples to arrange to have a surrogate child in Israel.

Ministers who yesterday voted in favour of the bill included Finance Minister and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Justice Minister and Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni and Likud’s Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The five ministers who opposed the bill were all representatives of Jewish Home and Yisrael Beitenu. One of them, Housing Minister Uri Ariel requested that a final decision by the committee be delayed by two weeks as the legislation deals with a very sensitive matter and the relevant ministries have not yet agreed on a formula for the bill. However, Health Minister German called the bill “an important step” which, “contains the correct balance between the desire and right to be a parent and the need to protect the surrogate mother and her rights.”

The bill’s approval by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation is a preliminary step to introducing the bill for debate in the Knesset. However, the bill is one aspect of a body of proposed progressive legislation which elements of the current government is eager to introduce over issues of personal status. In December, the Knesset debated granting equal tax credits to same-sex couples and Yesh Atid leaders have been vocal over their support to introduce civil marriage. Jewish Home leaders have also made initial attempts to reform the rabbinical authorities which govern marriage among Jewish Israelis.