Israel's Chief Rabbinate decided over the weekend that it will attempt to reduce the number of abortions in Israel through the establishment of a special committee. Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar supported the Rabbinical Council's decision, which was made after a presentation of facts and figures by pro-life organization Efrat.
According to the head of Efrat, which provides assistance to mothers who decide not to abort their children, 50,000 abortions occur in Israel yearly, only 20,000 of which are performed legally.
In statements issued by the rabbis, they deemed the majority of abortions as "unnecessary and strictly forbidden according to halakha (Jewish law)" because they do not pose a health risk to the mother, but are rather abortions of convenience.