Justice Haim Cohn of Israel’s Supreme Court, said today that Conservative and Reform rabbis could challenge the Orthodox monopoly of religious life in Israel in Israel’s courts and indicated that by so doing they might gain the right to perform marriages, and other religious functions in Israel.
Addressing a press conference at the American Jewish Committee here, Justice Cohn expressed vehement opposition to religious law as the law of the State and said one of the reasons why Israel has not drafted a constitution in the 27 years since its independence was because of Orthodox demands that a constitution include a provision stating that “Judaism should be the religion of the State.”
“We are a secular state and all religions are equal,” the Israeli jurist declared. He noted that a civil rights bill currently before the Knesset does not contain the provision demanded by the Orthodox.
Justice Cohn is visiting the U.S. on a month-long speaking tour on behalf of the Israeli government’s efforts to gain the support of American public opinion for its position on a Middle East peace settlement. Replying to questions about recent demands for capital punishment in Israel, Justice Cohn said the death penalty “is nothing but a primitive retaliation” and that he personally would never approve a law establishing it.
HARSH WORDS FOR UN COMMISSION
The Supreme Court justice had harsh words for a recent resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Commission condemning Israel for its arrest and conviction of Greek Catholic Archbishop Hillarion Capucci who is presently serving a 12-year prison term for smuggling arms to terrorists in Israel. UN interference with Israeli court proceedings is “incompatible” with the rule of law, Cohn stated.
He noted that “Capucci is a common criminal,” adding that the only thing that matters is that whatever Israelis do is done with “a good and true accounting to our conscience,” He said Israelis must be determined never to lower their own standards of morality and integrity.
Referring to the recently exposed phenomenon of widespread corruption in Israeli society, Justice Cohn said “We are not angels in Israel.” He expressed hope that Israelis will be able to regain the highest standards of integrity.
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