Far-right MKs: Doctors, businesses should be allowed to turn away LGBTQ Israelis
The inflammatory remarks were made by two lawmakers from Religious Zionism but incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted no Israelis' rights would be harmed under his watch
Far-right lawmakers from Religious Zionism were widely condemned this week after saying that doctors and businesses should be able to refuse patients and clients if it contradicts their “religious beliefs”.
Lawmaker Orit Strock, who is expected to be appointed minister for National Projects in the new government, told Kan public radio: “If a doctor is asked to give any type of treatment to someone that violates his religious faith, if there is another doctor who can do it then you can’t force them to provide treatment.
“Anti-discrimination laws are just and right when they create a just, equal, open and inclusive society. But there is a certain deviation in which religious faith is trampled upon and we want to amend this.”
Meanwhile, her colleague from Religious Zionism, Simcha Rothman, said hotels should be able to turn away gay clients if it “contravenes his beliefs
“If it goes against your beliefs, and it hurts your religious sentiments and it’s your private hotel, then the answer is yes, that’s the law. A business owner can do whatever they like in his business. He created the business and he doesn’t owe anyone anything.”
The two lawmakers were condemned widely across the political spectrum and in Israeli civil society, in what is just the latest in a series of homophobic remarks made by far-right lawmakers since the elections on 1 November.
Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin said he “completely rejects MK Strock’s statements. We cannot discriminate against LGBTQ or harm the rights of Israeli citizens.
“There will be no situation in a country that I lead that any person, either a him or a her, LGBTQ, Arab, ultra-Orthodox or any other, will go to a hotel and not be served or go to a doctor and not be treated. This hasn’t happened in the last 15 years of my premiership, and it won’t happen now,” Netanyahu said.
Shortly after Netanyahu issued his condemnation, Kan public broadcaster published an image of the clause in the coalition agreements with Likud, which clearly states that the current law against discrimination will be changed so that businesses won’t be punished for refusing to provide service or a product due to “religious faith”.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog issued an unprecedented condemnation of rem arks by incoming ministers, saying: “The racist statements heard in the last few days against the LGBTQ community and against citizens from different communities are very worrying to me.
“I condemn every statement that serves as a basis for exclusion or any phenomenon that allows discrimination. I am working and will work with all my power as president of the state to avoid harm to our different communities.”
The Israel Medical Association also lashed out at Strock, with its chairman saying “doctors in Israel are committed to the doctor’s oath and will not allow any person or any law to change this fact”.
Both Israel Discount Bank and Microsoft were also quick to warn that their clients would have to respect their anti-discrimination policies, which are aligned with the current law in Israel.
“Discount Bank will not grant credit to businesses or entities that discriminate against customers in the State of Israel,” the bank said in a statement. “This is our commitment and responsibility as a significant business entity within the Israeli economy.”
Calcalist quoted Microsoft’s vice president Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk as saying: “Israel is a democratic and moral country and it must remain so if it wants to stay alive. A discourse that encourages racism and discrimination of any kind has no place in a proper society.”
Ayelet Shaked, the outgoing Interior Minister, and former colleague of Strock in the Jewish Home party, warned the far-right in her farewell speech in Knesset about the racist and homophobic remarks made in recent days.
“Over the past few days, I have heard from friends who tell me that their friends are talking about leaving the country. You need to take this feeling among parts of the public into account,” Shaked said.
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