MK Sharren Haskel (Likud) has proposed a law that would help Israelis interested in civil marriage but unable to travel due to CoronaVirus restrictions.
Normally anyone interested in civil marriage, either due to the Rabbanut not allowing them to marry because of halachic impediments or just because they only want a civil marriage would usually travel abroad, often to Cyprus, or arrange for something local but off the record and possibly illegal. With travel restrictions the way they are, these people want/need a solution.
To that end, Haskel is proposing a law that would allow them to go to the embassy, in Israel, of one of the foreign countries and get their civil marriage there.source: Maariv
According to Hamechadesh, the Haredi parties are, understandably, upset about this proposal. They see it as damaging to the family unit and halachic marriage system that has always been protected in Israel. They are especially upset because it is coming from a coalition partner - a Member of Knesset from the Likud rather than from the Opposition such as from Meretz.
They are especially concerned in light of last week's vote for the law proposal about prohibiting conversion therapy in which some coalition members, including Kachol Lavan and at least with Likud ember voting in favor, in addition to other Likud members staying away allowing it to pass. They are hopeful that this time the coalition members will play ball with what is sacred to the Haredi parties and will vote against this bill.
Last time Kachol Lavan seemed to use the vote for an Opposition bill as some sort of revenge against Netanyahu, so it is likely that this time they won't want to upset the Haredim that they have been working to keep happy. With Likud members also tacitly supporting the bill last time, this one remains a question, though I suspect they won't want to upset their coalition partners and will either have Haskel pull the proposal or vote against. This is one of those things where it seems other parties are not allowed to have their own position against the Haredi parties' position due to coalition politics. If they pass this bill I would be very surprised.
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