13.4.05

By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent

Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Herzog announced Tuesday that his ministry will recognize same-sex couples with children as a family for purposes of receiving housing aid.

Until now, the ministry had authorized aid only to married couples, couples who sign a statement promising to wed within three months, and couples who are known throughout the community as having reared a child together.

Herzog has instructed the ministry to grant the same recognition to same-sex couples as it does with heterosexual partners.

"This is a breakthrough that is based on our desire to create an equal, enlightened society that sees all parents, even same-sex ones, as eligible according to the principles of Israeli law," Herzog said.

Herzog's announcement is one in a chain of similar decisions concerning equal rights for same-sex couples, among them the recent decision by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to recognize same-sex partners for purposes of inheritance rights.