Shas, Likud, and Lieberman have agreed on a hypocritical version of civil marriages: they would only be allowed to non-Jews. UTJ’s Rabbi Eliyashiv rejected that approach on the practical grounds that the Supreme Court is likely to overturn the “racial” restriction in the law and allow civil marriages to Jews as well—which would allow them to marry non-Jews, who are plentiful in Israel.
Theoretically, the Supreme Court should not intervene because Israel maintains two different marriage systems, one for Jews, another for Muslims. Logically, a third system might be offered to other denominations. But Rabbi Eliyashiv realized correctly that the Supreme Court treats Muslims preferentially to Jews and won’t allow the later a separate binding marriage jurisdiction.
Netanyahu cannot form a right-wing coalition without UTJ, and Lieberman is unlikely to compromise on assimilationist marriages. The fuss is odd; this is a Jewish state, and if non-Jews cannot marry conveniently, that is the least of our problems.
Netanyahu can try splitting a few members from Kadima into the coalition in order to compensate for UTJ.
Meanwhile, Olmert remains in office, and probably laughs at them all.
