Israel expanded criteria for adoption by gay couples.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced Sunday that same-sex couples in Israel will be extended the same adoption rights as heterosexual couples.
Gay men and women previously were allowed to adopt only if the child in question was the partner’s biological offspring.
“It was decided that there is no legal hindrance to allowing same-sex couples, or one of the partners, to adopt an unrelated child who is not the child of either partner,” a Justice Ministry statement said.
The ministry added that specific adoptions would still be subject to the approval of Israel’s social services.
