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Gays in Israel

Screenshot from video skit posted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of Shavuot, May 21, 2026. (Social media)
May 22, 2026, 1:11 pm
Netanyahu posts skit of young man ‘coming out’ as his supporter, to parents’ horror
Clip posted on Shavuot eve shows liberal family imploding after son reveals he backs PM; message empathizes with his voters ostensibly having harder time declaring their identity than gays do
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Welfare Minister Ya'akov Margi at a Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
July 27, 2023, 4:59 pm
Shas’s welfare minister to court: Same-sex adoption against child’s best interests
AG favors legislation that would broaden the interpretation of the current adoption law to includes same-sex couples
By ToI Staff
Niv Nissim, left, stars as Tomer and John Benjamin Hickey, right, stars as Michael in Eytan Fox’s 'Sublet.' (Daniel Miller)
June 23, 2021, 3:54 am
In Eytan Fox’s ‘Sublet,’ gay mecca Tel Aviv serves as set for generation clash
Two gay men, one an older American, one a cocky young Sabra, explore Tel Aviv in the Israeli director’s newest release, out now in select US theaters and via on-demand from July 9
By Jordan Hoffman
Illustrative: Religious Jewish activists protest same-sex parenting and LGBTQ families, across from LGBTQ advocates in Tel Aviv, December 16, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
June 24, 2020, 4:00 am
Gay conversion therapy to fix ‘reverse inclinations’ is alive and well in Israel
The controversial ‘treatment’ hasn’t gone away — it’s just changed its name and branding
By Avner Hofstein and Omer Sharvit
A man mourns the dead in the Bar Noar shooting in Tel Aviv, August 2, 2009. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 6:53 pm
A decade on, parents of LGBT center shooting victims still waiting for answers
Bar Noar shooter remains at large despite biggest police investigation in Israel’s history; ‘How will anger help me?’ asks Ayala, mother of slain Nir Katz
By ToI Staff
Rafi Peretz, head of the Union of Right-Wing Parties, holds a press conference after meeting with President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem, April 16, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
July 13, 2019, 11:22 pm
Backing gay conversion therapy, new education minister elicits fresh uproar
Rafi Peretz pilloried by opposition parties, with multiple calls for his resignation; Netanyahu: Statements unacceptable, do not reflect the position of the government
By Jacob Magid
Illustrative. A criminal in handcuffs. (Yakobchuk Olena/ iStock, by Getty Images)
January 20, 2019, 5:07 pm
‘Gay conversion’ therapist convicted of molesting his clients for years
Reuven Welcher tricked underage men seeking to reduce their homosexual feelings into consenting to acts; as part of plea deal, prosecution won’t seek jail term
By Michael Bachner
Thousands protest in support of the right of LGBT couples to adopt children at a demonstration in Tel Aviv on July 20, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
December 13, 2018, 11:08 am
Top court rules for gay parents in birth certificate fight
Interior Ministry had refused to record two adoptive fathers as parents in son’s birth record; ruling could influence separate appeals brought by lesbian and transgender parents
By ToI Staff
Friends of Shira Banki mourn at her grave after her funeral on August 3, 2015. 16-year-old Banki was stabbed and critically wounded while participating in the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade on July 31. Banki passed away on August 2, 2015. (Flash90)
June 14, 2018, 3:29 pm
Far-right activist gets NIS 180 fine for praising fatal 2015 gay parade stabbing
In Facebook posts, Gilad Kleiner, son of a former MK, endorsed the 2015 attack and celebrated the death of 16-year-old Shira Banki
By ToI Staff
Israeli pop singer Harel Skaat performs during a concert celebrating Jerusalem Day in Saker Park in Jerusalem, May 15, 2007. (Michal Fattal/Flash90)
July 17, 2017, 3:48 pm
State opposition to same-sex couple adoptions sparks ire, including key minister’s
Gay pop star Harel Skaat calls on youth to stop serving in army, paying taxes
By Stuart Winer
Shahaf Ben-Yakov (Courtesy of Pride in Blue and White)
March 10, 2017, 11:16 am
Ex-IDF officers fight to keep Israel’s military friendly to women, gays
Pride in Blue and White launches campaign to raise funds for army prep courses, mentoring programs for female, LGBT youth
By Andrew Tobin
Ivri Lider performs during at an outdoor street party in downtown Jerusalem on July 5, 2013. (Zuzana Janku/Flash90)
September 18, 2016, 11:21 pm
Settlement residents slam show by gay singer, demand ‘pervert’ be disinvited
Amid claims upcoming performance in Elkana amounts to ‘blasphemy,’ Ivri Lider decries campaign against him as ‘hurtful’
By ToI Staff
Gili Mosinzon (Facebook)
May 13, 2016, 7:39 pm
Israeli baller comes out on Independence Day
Gili Mosinzon, 37, of Maccabi Bat Yam basketball team dishes out criticism to coaches for using homophobic language
By JTA
Khader Abu-Seif draped in opposing flags for part of the Celebration series by photographer Xavier Klaine (Courtesy Xavier Klaine)
March 4, 2016, 1:29 am
Gay Arab activist wraps himself in the flags
Khader Abu-Seif poses with the symbols of the two ‘states have screwed me for 28 years of my life’
By Jessica Steinberg
In this Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 photo, Dr. Elan Karten poses for a portrait at his office in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
February 4, 2016, 1:01 pm
‘Gay conversion’ therapists say they find demand in Israel
Orthodox practitioners allowed to continue, even though Health Ministry calls practice scientifically dubious and potentially dangerous, and US bids to curb it
By Daniel Estrin
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