MKs Zevulun Orlev and Otniel Schneller have introduced a bill which seeks to simplify the process of obtaining a get, a divorce, aware of the horror stories surrounding the cases of recalcitrant husbands and the many agunos, who simply continue their lives while imprisoned by a previous marriage. The two feel that the judicial system must be empowered and compelled to act on behalf of women who are being imprisoned by husbands unwilling to give a get.

The bill in question was approved by the Knesset committee on Tuesday, 4 Cheshvan, and Orlev is confident that it will be passed into law and bring about a long overdue change in the system. He explains that even if a court rules against a husband, there simply is not system in place to guarantee implementation of the ruling.

This new bill carries a powerful punch, and it will result in a recalcitrant husband in losing a drivers license, being banned from leaving the country, a lien on bank accounts, closing doors to any public position, closing doors to certain professions such as CPA and attorney. The power and responsibility for ordering these steps would remain with the court, and the MKs are optimistic that this will be a  major step in the direction of freeing many agunot who today simply have no address for assistance.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)