MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) claims that some same-sex couples do not receive equal treatment under the law.
She specifically pointed to couples in which one is an Israeli citizen and the other is not but wishes to obtain citizenship. While a married man and woman would require a four-year naturalization process, same-sex couples are forced to wait seven years.
"The Citizenship Law and the Entrance to Israel Law allow a range of discretion to the Interior Minister and the Ministry of the Interior, so they have the ability to stop the specific discrimination against same-sex couples. These couples are, for some reason, required to go through a long process as if they are merely common law partners and not married," said Zandberg. "Even in a case where the couple is not married and are known to the public, there is room to consider shortening the process when they run a common household and there is clear evidence that their request derives from their relationship and living together."