In a case that could have a major impact on gay rights here, the homosexual partner of an army colonel who died of cancer is suing the Israel Defense Force for a survivor’s pension.
In a Tel Aviv court last week, the IDF stated that it did not recognize the claim of Adir Steiner that he lived as the partner of the late Col. Doron Maisel, adding that Steiner had no rights as a member of Maisel’s family.
Citing letters Maisel had written before his death, Steiner, in turn, claimed that the IDF knew that he and Maisel had lived together for the last eight year’s of Maisel’s life.
Steiner further argued that when he accompanied Maisel abroad for cancer treatments, the IDF gave Steiner the same security check as would have been given to a wife accompanying her officer husband.
No verdict has yet been handed down.
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