The Knesset plenary has passed a groundbreaking law significantly expanding measures against individuals who refuse to grant religious divorces, introducing a range of new restrictions and financial sanctions.
Key Points:
- New law dramatically expands tools to combat get refusal
- Introduces novel sanctions, including e-mobility restrictions and financial penalties
- Receives broad support from women's organizations, religious courts, and across political spectrum
Detailed New Sanctions:
1. Transportation Restrictions:
- Ban on riding electric bicycles and scooters
- Existing measures include driver's license revocation
2. Financial Measures:
- Blocking of credit cards
- Freezing of payment applications
- Closure of bank accounts
- Imposition of fines benefiting the affected spouse
3. Legal and Social Consequences:
- Prohibition on serving as a member of a corporation
- Implementation of "Harkhakot d'Rabbenu Tam" - social ostracism based on religious law
- Immediate isolation (solitary confinement) for prisoners serving sentences due to get refusal
4. Travel Restrictions (existing measures):
- Delay of exit from the country
- Prevention of passport issuance
5. Ultimate Sanction:
- Imposition of actual imprisonment
Legislative Process:
The bill was advanced by the Minister of Religious Services Michael Malchieli, MK Simcha Rothman and the Rabbinical Courts. It gained support from various women's organizations and saw collaboration across political lines.
Reactions from Key Figures:
Minister Michael Malchieli:
"We will continue the fight against get refusal, following in the footsteps of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory, who worked day and night to release women from their chains of being agunot. After the Yom Kippur War, he did not rest until he managed to release all the agunot."
MK Simcha Rothman, Chairman of the Constitution Committee:
"It was impressive to see women's and men's organizations, the rabbinical courts administration, and Knesset members from both opposition and coalition working together and contributing to a law that I believe will be highly beneficial. We created compromises in the law that I think succeeded in bringing most people around the table to an agreement. This law is great news for the State of Israel."
Attorney Shir Lavi Zinati, from "Mavoi Satum" organization:
"This is a positive bill, despite the challenges that accompanied the legislation. 'Mavoi Satum', along with other organizations and in cooperation with Chairman Simcha Rothman and committee members Gilad Kariv and Karine Elharrar, worked to correct the deficiencies and ensure that the law will help women refused a get and not harm them. However, the need for such a law points to a root problem that has not yet been adequately addressed by the legislator. Even at this moment, many women are trapped in unwanted marriages. We hope that the rabbinical courts will use these tools to resolve get refusal cases."
Historical Context:
The rabbinical courts have been employing various legal and religious tools in recent years to combat get refusal. This new law significantly expands their arsenal, providing more comprehensive and impactful measures to address this long-standing issue in Israeli society.
Looking Ahead:
While the new law is seen as a significant step forward in addressing get refusal, some activists emphasize that it also highlights a fundamental issue in the current system. The hope is that these new tools will be used effectively by the rabbinical courts to resolve cases swiftly and justly, reducing the number of individuals, particularly women, trapped in unwanted marriages.
The implementation and effectiveness of these new measures will likely be closely monitored by both advocacy groups and lawmakers in the coming months and years.
