Final ruling likely in six months

Israel’s Supreme Court has said gay people have the right to become parents through surrogacy, giving campaigners hope of amending legislation that makes only a man and woman eligible. However, a final ruling has been delayed for six months.

Assistant Chief Justice Salim Joubran on Thursday told gay couples, single women and advocacy groups who petitioned the court that it was time for “widening access to surrogacy in Israel to additional family units which are not included today”, according to documents seen by AFP.

Right to become parents

“I find it hard to agree with a situation which prevents single people and same-sex couples fulfilling their right to become parents through surrogacy agreements,” he said.

“I myself cannot see any justice in giving preference to heterosexual parenting over same-sex parenting,” added Justice Joubran, whose comments in court came the same day as thousands attended a Gay Pride parade under police protection in the religiously conservative city of Jerusalem.

But Justice Joubran, in his last decision before retiring from the bench, postponed for six months a ruling on the suit, in order to allow a new draft law, currently before parliament, to be finalised. “The time is not yet ripe to rule on the petitions in light of the legislative process in process in Parliament,” he said.