Despite how far we've come on Affirming Care for same-sex couples, there is still far too much non-affirming care in this world. Especially surrounding the laws in Israel. Read about the the latest
same-sex surrogacy bill that passed the first reading, still having to pass the 2nd and 3rd reading...Same-sex surrogacy proposal passes first reading in Knesset -
Health Minister's measure to allow LGBT, single-parent use of country's surrogacy services on track to become law despite difficult debate.
Moran Azulay
|
After a
divisive floor debate, the Knesset plenum approved legislation on Monday to
allow same-sex couples to use surrogacy services on first reading. Health
Minister Yael German's proposal must still survive a second and third reading
before it is passed into law.
The new
amendment to the existing surrogacy law would cover single-parent cases and the
use of surrogate mothers abroad. During the fractious session, 45 Knesset
members supported the proposal, 15 opposed, and three abstained.
The proposal intends a dramatic change in surrogacy policy,
easing the bureaucratic maze same-sex couples faced, specifically when the
surrogacy process was undertaken in foreign countries.
Same-sex couples arriving from Thailand (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
German's
amendment does not explicitly address LGBT parents, but allows "every individual"
to become a parent using the surrogacy services – up until the age of 54. The
surrogate mother's maximum age was raised two years to 38, while a Health
Ministry committee would supervise the process, with costs limited to 160,000
shekels.
The
initiative was supported by most factions in the coalition – Yesh Atid, Yisrael
Beiteinu, Hatnua, and the Likud – while the opposition had internal
disagreements. Zehava Gal-On, Tamar Zandberg, and Michal Rozin from Meretz
opposed the proposal while Nitzan Horovitz and Ilan Gilon supported the
amendment.
Labor
chose to unanimously support German's proposal, though some faction members
chose to abstain to demonstrate their disapproval.
Naftali
Bennet's Bayit Yehudi stringently opposed the measure, claiming it would change
the family structure in Israel – but the faction allowed its members to
independently vote in order to quell disorder.
The
religious party, Shas, spoke out against the proposal. "This is a corrupt
law. Only sinner could support it," said MK Nisim Ze'ev. "What is
this import and export of babies? It's like we're talking about frozen meat.
The law allows for the creation of a child without the approval of the father.
What is this chutzpah?"
"Is
it not immoral that a woman can do something behind her husband's back? The law
permits fraud and deception, encourages sins and crimes, and hurt the husband
who doesn't know that a baby was born that was not his."
West Coast Surrogacy (WCS) and West Coast Egg Donation Inc. (WCED) is an all-inclusive surrogate and egg donation agency located in Southern California. Working with intended parent(s) both straight and gay together with gestational surrogates and egg donors nationwide, WCS & WCED uses a team-oriented approach that encompasses the highest level of integrity, support, and compassion. It is our pledge to guide you through every step of this life-changing process, acting as both a resource for information and an unparalleled support system.
To find out more about our surrogate mother and egg donor programs, please visit us on the web at:
http://www.westcoastsurrogacy.com and http://www.westcoasteggdonation.com or call us at (toll free) 877.492.7411.
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