On Wednesday, the 5th of November, the Israeli Knesset passed a legislative amendment which is expected to help women whose husbands deny them a religious divorce. The bill was drafted and initiated by ICAR - the International Coalition for Agunah Rights, of which ICJW is a member and an active supporter.

The amendment is truly revolutionary in that it reduces by a large degree the power of the party refusing to grant or receive the Get to demand concessions from the other side regarding their legal share in the marital property in return for their agreement. The amendment states that it is possible to divide the marital property of divorcing couples before the actual get is granted in the Rabbinical Courts. The amendment reduces the possibility of trading financial rights in return for the Get and corrects a 30 year injustice against women, who are usually weaker party financially.

ICAR believes that this amendment is a turning point on the way to a more equitable divorce process between the sexes in Israel, and hopes that the Knesset members and the political parties that supported the amendment will continue their support in their platform and in the next Knesset.