Israel & Hamas Agree To Cease-Fire

Brokered by the UN and Secretary Of State John Kerry:

In a statement released in New Delhi where Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling, the U.S. and U.N. said they had gotten assurances that all parties to the conflict in Gaza had agreed to an unconditional cease-fire during which there would be negotiations on a more durable truce in the three-week-old fighting. "This humanitarian cease-fire will commence at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. It will last for a period of 72 hours unless extended. During this time the forces on the ground will remain in place," the statement said. "We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian cease-fire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the cease-fire." The statement said the cease-fire was critical to give civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence. During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive humanitarian relief and have time to bury the dead, take care of the injured and restock food supplies. The time also will be used to repair water and energy infrastructure.

ISRAEL: Rabbi Calls For Jewish Doctors To Withhold Treating Gentiles On Sabbath

Ultra Orthodox Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is the founder and head of Israel's Shas Party, which presently holds a number of seats in the national government. Last week Yosef declared that "religious doctors" should refuse to treat non-Jews if their emergency occurs on the sabbath.

During a class on Sabbath halacha relating to religious physicians, the spiritual leader of Shas said that while doctors are expected to do everything in their power – even if it requires violating the Sabbath – in order to save Jews whose lives are in danger, the same does not apply for gentiles. "If a gentile were to get injured in a car accident during Sabbath, and he is brought to the hospital – Israel must not treat him," he said, explaining that "if the particular procedures come from rabbis (de-rabbanan), then they might be permitted, but if they stem from prohibitions in the Torah (de-'oraita), then they are not allowed, as the Torah forbids to violate the Sabbath for gentiles."

Shas is the Knesset's fourth-largest party. They hold four cabinet posts in the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Via Friendly Atheist)

Israel Rejects All Civil Marriages

Israel's Knesset today rejected a bill that would allow civil marriages. Currently all Israeli marriages must be conducted by a religious institution. The proposed bill would have allowed secular, interfaith, and same-sex unions.

The legislation, by MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) opens the option of civil marriages for those who may not be wed according to halacha (Jewish law), as well as those who choose not to be married by the Chief Rabbinate. It was rejected, with 39 MKs opposed and 11 in favor. Horowitz said there are tens of thousands of homosexual couples in Israel, and his law would help them and others who cannot exercise the basic right to be married and build a family. “There is an extremist, dark institution deciding who may or may not get married,” the Meretz MK said. “The public is sick of the rabbinate.” According to Horowitz, coalition parties betrayed their secular voters by rejecting the bill, choosing to pander to haredi (ultra-orthodox) parties, instead. “Now, more than ever, it is clear to the public in Israel who is for a free society and who is for haredim,” he added.

Like the U.S., Israel is ostensibly a secular democracy.

BREAKING: Gunman Kills Two At Tel Aviv LGBT Youth Center

Horrible news:

A gunman sprayed automatic fire at an Israeli club for gay teenagers on Saturday, killing two people and wounding at least eight, police and witnesses said. The shooting spree in central Tel Aviv set off a citywide security clampdown, reviving memories of Palestinian attacks that have ebbed in recent years. But a police spokesman said that the incident was "criminal, rather than nationalistic." Citing witnesses, Israeli television said a black-clad, masked gunman stormed into the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association building and opened fire in a basement room where teenage homosexuals were holding a weekly support group. Most of the casualties were minors, the police spokesman said, adding that the assailant was believed to have used an automatic weapon such as an M-16 rifle. "This is an unprecedented event for Israel and for the community," association director May Pamel told Channel 10 TV.

More as the story develops.

UPDATE: The death toll has risen to three.

Gay Dad Gets Abducted Son Back In Israel

NYC gay dad Joshua Glazer was reunited with his son in Israel yesterday. Last week Glazer's husband fled to Israel with their adopted son in what was called the first ever case of international abduction by a married gay parent. Glazer's partner, Eric Hyett, had claimed that Glazer has been emotionally abusive.

A "removal team" made up of Israeli law enforcement and social workers escorted 23-month-old Jedidiah from a Jerusalem apartment where father Eric Hyett had holed up after spiriting the boy there from Manhattan.

"It's the most wonderful feeling in the world to have him back," Jedidiah's other dad, Joshua Glazer, said in a call from Israel after being reunited with his son. When Jedidiah saw him he started shouting, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! And he was kissing me and kissing everybody," Glazer said.

Glazer and Hyett had married in Massachusetts in 2004, but later broke up. The two became embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their adopted son. Hyett, arguing Glazer was emotionally abusive and trying to cut him out of the child's life, took Jedidiah and fled on Aug. 4 to Israel, where he has friends and family.

Glazer hired the International Investigative Group, which located Hyett within 20 hours of him landing in Israel, said agency president Daniel Ribacoff. Private investigators tailed Hyett for more than a week as he moved from Lapid, a small village near the West bank, to the Jerusalem apartment where officials found Jedidiah. Glazer and his mother flew to Israel, and Glazer was outside waiting in a car when authorities brought the child to him.

Back in NYC, Hyett was charged in absentia with custodial interference. All parties will remain in Israel until the jurisdiction of the case has been resolved.