GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Israeli Cabinet has a plan to fight polygamy among Arab-Israelis. The anti-polygamy plan, approved Jan. 29, calls for stricter enforcement of Article 176 of the 1977 Israeli Penal Code, which prohibits polygamy and makes it punishable with five years in prison.
Judicial and law enforcement authorities are urged to report any suspected cases of polygamy. The plan also calls for stricter accountability and punishments for government employees who fail to report such cases as they encounter them. Religious courts will also be subject to these new regulations. According to the plan, men with multiple wives may face legal prosecution or lose welfare allocations.