The Ministerial Committee on Legislation has approved several controversial laws to be presented before the Knesset for their preliminary reading. These include the “Hametz Law” and the “Rabbinical Courts Law,” which would expand the jurisdiction of religious courts. The “Hametz Law,” proposed by United Torah Judaism MKs Moshe Gafni, Yaakov Asher, and Yitzhak Pindros, makes it illegal for hospitals to possess or enter hametz (leavened bread) during Passover. Hospital directors will appoint someone to enforce the prohibition. However, this law would not apply to hospitals that do not define themselves as being kosher.
Background on Hametz Law
This issue of hametz in hospitals has been a recurring topic for several years. It even served as the trigger for then Yamina MK and current Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman to quit the previous coalition last April. The previous Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz prohibited hospital directors from checking for hametz at the entrance in line with a High Court ruling. Silman left the coalition in protest.
Rabbinical Courts Law
The law to broaden the jurisdiction of religious courts was proposed by UTJ MKs Gafni Asher and Uri Makleb, as well as Shas MK Yinon Azulay. This law gives religious courts the power to serve as arbitrators in civil cases with the agreement of both sides. It expands the jurisdiction of religious courts over marital status, burial, and conversion.
Judicial Reforms
Gafni linked these laws to the government’s proposed reform of Israel’s judicial system. “This is additional proof how far the High Court goes in its intervention in subjects that are not under its jurisdiction. Today we are fixing this with legislation that will be brought later on this week to the Knesset plenum,” Gafni said.
Reaction to the Proposed Laws
Yisrael Beytenu chairman and former finance minister MK Avigdor Liberman responded on Twitter, “The rabbinical courts already today are funded by an enormous sum of approximately NIS 200 million, funds which would have been better off investing in adding positions to the judicial system that would assist in speeding up legal and bureaucratic procedures that all Israelis encounter. When we return to power will return to normalcy. Whoever chooses to turn to the rabbinical courts may do so privately, without funding from taxpayers and the middle class,” Liberman concluded.
