The Knesset has given initial approval to a bill that would allow both civil and rabbinical courts to order couples to divide their property before officially divorcing.  The law is meant to prevent one partner from refusing a Jewish divorce (get) in order to get more of the couple’s shared property.  Current laws require couples to obtain a divorce before splitting their assets.

The bill would allow couples to split property before a divorce if a year has passed since one partner requested a divorce, if the two partners have been living separately for at least nine months, or if one or both partners are abusive.  While both secular and religious MKs have backed the law so far, some have expressed concern that the hareidi-religious Shas party will oppose the law.

According to a 2007 study, approximately 180 Israeli men refuse to grant their wives a Jewish divorce, and approximately 190 Israeli women refuse to grant their husbands a divorce.   A woman who does not receive a divorce from her husband is unable to remarry, and any children conceived by another man will be illegitimate according to Jewish law.