Knesset okays bill to divide assets between couple undergoing divorce

By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Knesset plenum on Wednesday approved in its third and final reading a bill to divide the assets between a couple undergoing divorce before the divorce is granted. The private member's bill, submitted by Michael Melchior (Labor-Meimad), Zevulun Orlev (National Union- National Religious Party), and Othniel Schneller and Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima) is aimed at preventing either side in a divorce from blackmailing the other into conceding material rights in return for agreeing to a divorce. According to Halacha, a religious court, which is the only court in Israel that can grant a divorce, cannot impose a divorce ruling on either side. The man, who grants the divorce, and the woman, who accepts it, must both agree to do their part in the ceremony. Dan Izenberg contributed to this report.