The Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality announced June 21 that it would allow cohabiting couples to register their union in a declaration at the city hall. Thus, these couples would enjoy the same municipal rights as married couples. This would mean that same-sex couples and other couples who cannot wed under Israel’s religious authorities could now be eligible for housing tax discounts and could enroll more easily their children in public day care centers, schools and activities at community centers.

In a post that turned viral, Mayor Ron Huldai wrote, “In honor of Pride Week, we decided to challenge the government and allow couples to declare their union." Huldai added, "We hope the government will also enter the 21st century and uphold the rights of the LGBT community in law … the right to marry, have equal parental responsibilities, be protected from hate crime along with workplace bullying, and more."

According to Israeli law, marriages in Israel can be solemnized only by religious authorities. Thus, Jews can be wed only by a rabbi recognized by the Chief Rabbinate. Similarly, Muslims, Christians and Druze all marry through their own state-sanctioned religious legal systems. Civil marriages of interfaith and same-sex couples are technically not illegal, but there are no legal institutions authorized to carry them out.

Same-sex couples enjoy some state benefits, but not all. For instance, the Foreign Ministry has recognized already several years ago the right of a spouse, even if not married, to join his/her diplomat partner on a mission abroad. After proof of living together, the ministry would pay the travel costs of the gay spouse to join the diplomat partner, the same way it pays the flight tickets for married couples. On the other hand, male gay couples do not enjoy public health system financial support for fathering children. Newly appointed Welfare Minister Itzik Shmuli is now pushing forward legislation for the state to participate in costs of surrogacy processes outside of Israel.