The Knesset plenum approved the first reading of a bill that proposes to expand the power of rabbinical courts in Israel to act as arbitrators in civil matters.
The religious courts arbitration bill was passed on Monday by a margin of 63-43 and will now return to the committee for further discussion. It will still need to pass a second and third reading in the plenum to become law.
The bill was initiated by Moshe Gafni and Yisrael Eichler, of the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) United Torah Judaism party, as well as Yakov Asher and Yinon Azoulay from the Shas party.
Rabbinical courts would only be able to act as arbitrators if all sides agreed, the proposal states.
The bill’s explanatory notes explain that, for many years, rabbinical courts have handled civil disputes by mutual consent of the parties, but it was determined that they lack the authority to adjudicate such disputes.
“The purpose of this bill is to enshrine in law the authority of rabbinical courts to act as arbitrators, with the consent of both parties, in civil matters that may be subject to an arbitration agreement, thus allowing those who wish to resolve their civil disputes according to Jewish law to do so in rabbinical courts,” the explanatory notes continue.
Bill could damage women's rights, organization says
Ahead of the vote, the Israel Women’s Network stated that it strongly opposes the bill and warned that it could cause severe harm to women’s rights in Israel.
“If this law passes, even disputes in your workplace – with your boss or a colleague – or conflicts with a neighbor or other civil claims could be transferred to the jurisdiction of religious courts, ignoring the protections of civil law and the constitutional rights of women citizens,” the organization said.
“This government seeks to compel 51% of the population to conduct legal proceedings in a system where women are inherently disadvantaged, appearing before all-male judges, with no equal standing before the man across from them.
“Make no mistake, haredi women will pay the heaviest price, as they will face pressure to agree to arbitration in a religious court that is not bound by principles of gender equality,” the organization added.