A bill has been proposed by Minister of Religious Services (Shas) David Azoulai along with MKs Avraham Michaeli (Shas) And Aliza Lavi (Yesh Atid) by which Israel would be permitted to assist agunos from other countries. Today, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel may only intercede if at least one of the couple has Israeli citizenship.

According to the dati leumi Kippa website, the bill was introduced at the behest of the Conference of European Rabbis, and it would permit the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to assist even if both the husband and wife are not Israeli citizens.

If passed into law, the batei din in Israel would be able to impose sanctions on recalcitrant husbands and those sanctions would apply if and when the husband visits Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)