Revolutionary ruling

The Israeli Supreme Court on Monday ruled, by a 7-2 majority, that a lesbian couple is able to legally adopt each other's children.

The decision sets a precedent in relations between same-sex couples with regards to adoption.

According to the literal wording of the law, only married couples are allowed to adopt children, except in rare circumstances. Recently, the court handed down a ruling allowing a common law wife to adopt her partner's children. Based on the above ruling, the court expanded the principle to include same-sex couples.

The court also released the name of the parents: Tal and Avital Yaros-Hak.

Director of the "New Family" organization, attorney Irit Rosenblum, said Monday's court ruling was revolutionary.


"Our organization is also helping a gay couple, who wish to be recognized as the adoptive parents of a child that was legally adopted in the US, and are now suffering from bureaucratic caprice and prejudice regarding the rights of a same-sex family. We hope the court's ruling will lift the remaining obstacles."



MK Roman Bronfman (Yahad), the leading campaigner in the Knesset for homosexual rights, said the principle of "ensuring the welfare of children," was victorious over the conservative approach to families.



Shinui MK Hemi Doron said the decision shows that as opposed to several MKs "who are living in the dark ages," the court is operating according to norms of the 21st century. He said he hoped that the next step would be civil marriage.