Knesset passes law expanding powers of Israel’s rabbinic courts to arbitrate civil matters

Under the law, rabbinical courts may act as arbitrators only with the consent of all parties.

A law that will expand the power of rabbinic and Sharia courts in Israel and grant them authority to act as arbitrators in limited civil matters was passed in the Knesset plenum in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The Religious Courts Arbitration Bill, backed by the government, passed with 65 lawmakers in favor and 41 against.

It was debated for many hours late into Monday night before it was approved after strong objection from the opposition that it could undermine the state’s democratic character and harm women’s rights. Numerous objections were raised to passing the controversial law during wartime.

The law was initiated by the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, sponsored by lawmakers MK Moshe Gafni and MK Yisrael Eichler of the United Torah Judaism party (UTJ), as well as MKs Ya’akov Asher and Yinon Azoulay from the Shas Party.

Under the law, rabbinical courts may act as arbitrators only with the consent of all parties. Civil matters such as employment disputes and neighbor disputes can now be brought before these courts for arbitration.

The bill’s explanatory notes say that for many years, rabbinical courts have handled civil disputes by mutual consent of the parties, until it was determined that they lacked the authority to adjudicate such matters.

It was decided to exclude from the scope of the law arbitration in any criminal or administrative matters, as well as proceedings in which the state or a local authority was a party. Matters involving married couples or formerly married couples were also excluded.

The rabbinic courts are required to verify that consent was given freely and clarify to the parties that this is an arbitration process, not a judicial proceeding, according to the law’s proposal.

Rabbinical courts rule on family, property, and Jewish law

Rabbinical courts are part of the judicial system and primarily deal with matters such as divorce, property disputes, child visitation, wills and inheritance, as well as the recognition of Jewish status and conversion. They operate following halacha (Jewish law), rather than the secular civil courts system.

Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Simcha Rothman welcomed the bill, saying that it was “a great privilege to pass it into law.”

He argued that there is “nothing more liberal than allowing two adults to decide that they want to resolve a dispute between them, by consent, according to Torah law.”

Critics of the law have expressed strong concern that women’s rights could be harmed due to the nature of the rabbinic courts.

They have also warned of broader democratic implications, arguing that the legislation may deepen division between the haredi community and the rest of Israeli society, and that it could harm the country’s status quo.

The Israel Hofsheet movement, which deals with legislation in religious-state affairs, strongly condemned the passage of the law on Tuesday.

“Expanding the rabbinical courts’ jurisdiction to civil arbitration is not ‘just another technical amendment’, but rather a creation of a parallel, unregulated judicial system, grounded in religious law. “

The organization warned that the law lacks basic safeguards and judicial oversight.

“This is not what democracy looks like. This is a dangerous slide toward a regime in which civil rights are governed by religious authorities,” the group added.

The head of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, Meirav Cohen (Yesh Atid), spoke on the risk that the bill poses to women at the plenum ahead of the vote.

She said that rabbinical courts are not egalitarian because Jewish law (halacha) itself is not.

“Anyone who says that expanding the authority of the rabbinical courts is ‘just another option, just another track” is simply misleading the public.”

“It’s not just an expansion of authority, it’s a restriction of women’s freedom,” she added.

The Israel Women’s Network stated on Sunday that a survey it conducted in early March showed that only 16% of women in Israel support the rabbinical courts law.

The passage of the law has also drawn sharp criticism from the opposition for advancing the controversial legislation during wartime.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett called the law “disgraceful,” adding that it “tears the nation apart during wartime and severely harms individual rights.”

He said that the rabbinic courts “will be able to control the lives of more and more citizens who will become dependent on them (for example, ultra-Orthodox or vulnerable citizens who, in many cases, lack real choice).”

Bennett vowed that if he were to be elected, a government led by him would repeal the law.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) sharply criticized the government for the timing of advancing the bill and warned that it would destroy the status quo in the country.

“Today, March 23, 2026, is the day the status quo died. There is no longer any status quo on matters of religion and state,” Lapid said during a press conference at the Knesset on Monday ahead of the vote.

“There is a name for this, when rabbis are given the powers of the courts: it’s called a halachic state,” he added, noting that the government had promised initially to only advance legislation related to the war when it began.

The opposition leader also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party, saying it was “behaving like a doormat” for the haredim (ultra-Orthodox).

The timing of the vote on the bill also comes shortly before the final readings on the 2026 state budget that the coalition must pass by next week at the latest. By law, if the budget does not pass by the end of the month, the Knesset will dissolve, and early elections will be triggered.

During the state budget’s first reading in January, haredi parties had threatened to vote against it if they did not receive various concessions. This led to a coalition crisis until agreements were reached, allowing the budget to ultimately pass its first reading.

At another press conference on Monday, Yisrael Beytenu leader MK Avigdor Liberman also slammed the government for advancing the bill during the war.

“Today, while millions of citizens are running to shelters several times a day, while residents of the north hear real sirens on average every 22 minutes, on this very day, the Knesset is set to debate the ‘most important’ issue for the State of Israel: expanding the powers of the rabbinical courts,” he said.

“This is absolute madness and a moral bankruptcy. I don’t understand how the leaders of the coalition manage to fall asleep at night,” Liberman added.

Blue and White Party leader MK Benny Gantz also sharply criticized the move on Monday.

“While millions of citizens are jolted awake by sirens in the middle of the night and head down to shelters with their neighbors, we will sit here with our neighbors from the coalition in the plenum and deal with the arbitration law, intended to give more power to the rabbinical establishment,” he said.