Israeli Social Services Minister Walks Back Opposition To Gay Adoption: Our Brief Was Incorrectly Worded

That was quick. Haaretz reports:

Minister of Welfare and Social Services Haim Katz responded on Monday to the report, first reported in Haaretz Sunday, that Israel opposes the adoption of children by LGBT couples. Katz’s office issued a statement reading: “Unfortunately, the wording submitted to the High Court was wrong and it would have been better if it was never said. The minister has no intention of restricting or withholding the right to adopt from any group including LGBT persons.”

On Sunday, the state informed the High Court of Justice that it will not lift the discriminatory procedures for same-sex couples who want to adopt children in Israel. The Social Affairs and Justice Ministries told the High Court of its position ahead of the hearing that will be held later this week on a petition asking the court to end the present adoption policy, which discriminates against single-sex and common-law marriage families.

The petition to the High Court was filed by the Association of Israeli Gay Fathers, together with the Israel Religious Action Center of the Reform movement, against the Social Affairs Ministry and the attorney general. “Concerning same-sex couples,” the state brief reads, “it has been decided by the professional bodies in the Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services Ministry not to act at the present time to change the existing law.”