Despite vehement opposition by the representatives of Degel HaTorah and Shas MKs, as well as MK Michael Ben Ari from HaIchud Haleumi, the Knesset approved this past Monday, with a broad majority and at its first reading, two bills establishing special districts for civil marriage registration, known as the Tzohar Law.
According to this bill, any couple wishing to get married, can register in fifteen cities and towns throughout the country, as enumerated in a detailed listing appearing in the bill. They will not be restricted to their place of residence as the law previously stipulated.
The first bill was drawn up and presented by MK Atniel Schneller from Kadima, while a second version, initiated by Faina Kirschenbaum from Yisrael Beiteinu, was presented by the Coalition chairman Zev Elkin, who is also one of those signed on the bill. Schneller's version differs from Kirschenbaum's in that besides seeking to loosen up marriage registration laws to include alternate centers, he also asks to establish a computerized data base which would be available to anyone who wishes to register for marriage.
It should be noted that Shas opposed the bill when it was introduced this time, and its spokesmen expressed very explicit opposition to the bill in the course of the discussion in the Knesset plenary. It should be remembered, however, that this bill was approved due to a `deal' conspired in the past between Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu regarding this and another bill enabling the chief rabbis in office to be chosen for an additional term. In the Knesset, it was felt that the previous deal had fallen through, which is why Shas was now opposed to its passage.
