Ya’alon: No difference between bereaved same-sex, heterosexual partners

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Sunday said the army does not distinguish between the bereaved families of same-sex couples and those of heterosexual ones.

The defense minister had convened a meeting to discuss the state recognition of widowers and widows in same-sex partnerships whose partners have been killed in action during their army service.

“During the discussion, it arose that there is no difference in the recognition of the bereaved of same-sex partners and heterosexual ones, and therefore there is no need for legislation,” a statement from the Defense Ministry said.

“We treat the bereaved same-sex families and bereaved heterosexual families the same way. It wouldn’t occur to us to do otherwise, and it will not be otherwise,” Ya’alon said.

“Our moral obligation to bereaved families, widowers, widows, and orphans is immense; they will be recognized as such whether they are same-sex families or heterosexual ones,” the defense minister added.

In June 2015, the Defense Ministry said it would recognize unmarried couples who live in common-law partnerships, including same-sex couples, for purposes of military service pensions.The ministry will grant unmarried couples the pension funds they would get if they were to marry, attorney Irit Rosenblum, chair and founder of the New Family Organization, at the time. The pensions are sealed until several years after a conscript has been released from service but can be withdrawn under certain circumstances, including marriage.

Ya’alon has long been an advocate of rights for same-sex couples.

Last year, he was a lone voice among right-wing politicians to express hope that Israel will follow the US Supreme Court and recognize same-sex marriages.

Jonathan Beck contributed to this report.