Israel Knesset Rejects Five LGBT Bills as Jerusalem Protests Demand Equality

The provided source articles do not contain any information about the war on Gaza, including no named Gaza locations, dates, casualty figures, or quotes about Gaza-related fighting.

“Militants and supporters protested Saturday evening in Jerusalem, a few days after the Knesset voted against five proposed laws that would have improved LGBT rights in Israel, on the day after a first LGBT rights day that Parliament had nevertheless dedicated to them”

Association STOP homophobie

Instead, the sources focus on Israel’s domestic politics and LGBTQ rights, including Knesset votes on proposed bills and protests in Jerusalem.

Association STOP homophobie

Association STOP homophobie describes militants and supporters protesting Saturday evening in Jerusalem after the Knesset voted against five proposed laws that would have improved LGBT rights in Israel.

Ouest-France reports that Orit Strook, a member of the Knesset and designated as future Minister of National Missions in Israel, said on Sunday, December 25, 2022 that a doctor could refuse to treat a patient if it goes against their religious beliefs.

Haaretz reports that Knesset lawmakers on Wednesday voted down five bills that would have helped advance LGBT rights in Israel, just one day after marking LGBT rights day for the first time.

In the same account, Likud’s Amir Ohana, the first openly gay Knesset member, did not take part in the vote, and Ohana said, "I told the coalition chairman yesterday that I won’t vote with the coalition against the pro-gay bills today."

Haaretz

The STOP homophobie text also quotes Ohana explaining his vote, saying, "Coalition members are bound to coalition discipline, but contrary to what I said, I felt I couldn’t vote against the gay community, against myself," and it adds that he said he would have been penalized for voting against party line.

The STOP homophobie article further states that Culture Minister Miri Regev was not present at the vote, and it notes that the Zionist Union party condemned the coalition for torpedoing the bills.

Ouest-France says President Isaac Herzog reacted to the statement by saying he is worried and troubled by the racist statements of recent days against the LGBTQ community and other segments of the public.

“Ouest-France logo Support reliable and independent journalism, close to the territories Access ouest-france”

Ouest-France

Ouest-France also reports that Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the remarks as unacceptable, and his party said it would ensure that there will be no harm to LGBT people or the rights of any citizen in Israel, as posted on Twitter.

In the account of the proposed policy, Ouest-France says Orit Strook clarified that the law does not concern LGBT people, but medical procedures that would contravene religious laws, adding that it is inconceivable to force a Jewish doctor to violate Jewish law in a Jewish state.

The Ouest-France article further describes related proposals discussed by Simcha Rothman, including that under a clause in the coalition agreement hotel owners would be able to refuse rooms to LGBT people.