New Adoption Rights in Israel

In an important decision for gay rights In Israel, the Supreme Court In December ruled 7-to-2 that Tal and Avital Yaros-Hakak, a lesbian couple who have lived together for 15 years and have three sons conceived through artificial insemination, can legally adopt each other’s children. Two lower courts had granted the women legal guardianship but had rejected their bid for adoption. Judges warned, however, that the ruling, based on the welfare of the children, was specific to this case and is not meant to set a precedent. Reactions to the decision were, predictably, split. A spokesman for the National Religious Party called the decision “an affront to Jewish family values,” but parties to the left of center praised the decision. Israeli law does not recognize gay marriage.