Netanyahu denies backtracking support for LGBT surrogacy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hits back at media reports criticizing him for backtracking on his support for legislation that would grant surrogacy rights to LGBT couples.

Netanyahu is facing criticism for earlier this week declaring his support for a surrogacy bill that included a clause extending the right to gay couples. During the Knesset vote this afternoon, Netanyahu voted against the measure, reportedly due to pressure from ultra-Orthodox members of his coalition.

In a video posted to his Facebook page, Netanyahu says he is “absolutely consistent” in his stance on surrogacy rights. He says the clause submitted by an openly gay MK from his own Likud party would have struck down the bill entirely, “and mothers would not have access to surrogacy.”

Netanyahu says he will support a future amendment to the law that extends surrogacy in Israel to same-sex couples.