Israel approves bill making secular courts dependent on rabbis

Orthodox Jews. Photo: stmegi

Israel’s Knesset has approved, in a preliminary reading, a bill introduced by Likud lawmaker Galit Distel-Atbaryan that strengthens the influence of halakhic norms – the religious-legal prescriptions of Judaism based on the Torah, the Talmud, and rabbinic interpretations – on the public sphere and the country’s judicial system, Israelinfo reports.

The draft law envisages liability for obstructing halakhic practice. In particular, it would prohibit interference with gender separation during public prayers, as well as obstruction of traditional Jewish religious rites and the placement of religious symbols in public spaces. The bill would also strip municipalities of the authority to intervene in such matters, introducing sanctions for doing so.

The most controversial provision concerns secular courts. Judges would be required to undergo courses in Halakha and pass examinations administered by rabbis, while the Chief Rabbinate would receive veto power over their appointment. It is reported that the ministerial legislative committee opposed this provision, and it is possible that it will be removed from the bill during further consideration.

The opposition has sharply criticized the initiative. Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman stated that behind the rhetoric of “Jewish identity” lies an attempt to impose religious norms on the entire society. According to him, “a Jewish state does not mean a state that lives by Halakha,” and the strengthening of ultra-Orthodox influence could have destructive consequences for Israeli society.

Opposition lawmakers said the initiative leads toward religious diktat. A number of deputies compared the developments to the Iranian model of state governance, emphasizing that the imposition of religious norms undermines the secular character of the state.

As the UOJ previously reported, Israeli settlers carried out arson attacks and acts of vandalism in the Christian village of Taybeh.

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