A bill establishing a religious court system was passed by the Israel Parliament today by a vote of 24 to eight, following a rough session The majority of the Mapai Party deputies abstained on the vote and the rightwing Herut deputies absented themselves from the chamber.
The opposition to the measure supported by the religious parties allied with the government was led by Ida Maimon, Mapai deputy and two women deputies of the General Zionist Party Miss Maimon an advocate of women’s rights and a sister of religious Leader Rabbi J. L. Maimon proposed an amendment to the measure which would have required that one woman lawyer or social, worker be named an advisor to each rabbinical court since these courts deal primarily with matters of personal status.
Dr Zerach Warhaftig Deputy Minister for Religion defending the government mas### said that the Maimon amendment would defeat the purpose of the rabbinical courts since “outsiders” would turn it into an arbitration board rather than a court He announced on behalf of the two Chief Rabbis of Israel and the rabbinical courts that women secretaries would be employed by the courts and that they would give advice and comfort to women litigants before the rabbinical courts.
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