Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is recommending official state recognition of same gender parents. Weinstein submitted his recommendation to a court pending in the family court, telling the court he favors that a same gender partner of a biological birth mother should be viewed as a legal parent.

The mother was artificially inseminated. The same gender partner had to adopt the child. The attorney general wishes to put an end to the need for adoption, hence recognizing the union and the child as a child to the parents R”L.

The case in question pertains to women who were wed outside of Israel and the marriage is recognized by the Ministry of the Interior. In the case of the first child, the partner had to adopt the biological partner’s child to be listed as a parent. This time around, with the backing of the attorney general, they are trying to eliminate the need for adoption. It is pointed out the to’eva couple has a cohabitation agreement and joint wills.

Weinstein noted while common practice in Israel allows only one of the same-gender parents to be registered as a biological father, in situations such as those regarding the two females, the court should grant legal parent status if the following conditions are met:

· The parents must maintain a relationship for at least 18 months, including a shared household

· Both partners must be over 21-years-old and residents of Israel

· The appeal for recognition must be filed within 90 days of the date of birth

· The couple must have no records of violence or sexual crimes

· The couple will be required to undergo an inspection by the Welfare Ministry.

All of the conditions stipulated by Weinstein have been met by the females in the case pending before the family court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)