Portrait of Benjamin Netanyahu
Politician · policy
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Benjamin Netanyahu on LGBT Rights

Maintains status quo (moderate) Position evolved

TL;DR

Benjamin Netanyahu generally insists on upholding the current LGBT rights status quo while navigating pressures from religious coalition allies.

Key Points

  • He appointed Israel's first openly gay minister, Evan Cohen, as foreign media spokesperson in July 2019.

  • He supported an amendment to expand surrogacy to same-sex couples in July 2018 but later voted against it because of objections from Orthodox groups.

  • In December 2022, he publicly stated he would not accept any change to the status quo regarding LGBT rights, including limitations on pride parades, in response to his coalition partners.

Summary

Benjamin Netanyahu has often made public statements affirming support for civil equality and the rights of all citizens, including those in the LGBT community. For example, he stated he was proud to be the Prime Minister of a country that upholds civil equality regardless of sexual orientation, particularly following accusations of discrimination from international LGBT Jewish groups in 2018. Despite these affirmations, his government's actions or his positioning within coalitions have sometimes contradicted these stances, most notably when he supported an amendment to expand surrogacy rights to same-sex couples but ultimately voted against it due to objections from Orthodox groups.

His position often appears reactive to political dynamics, especially concerning his reliance on far-right, religiously conservative partners who explicitly oppose advancing LGBT rights or who seek to curb existing protections. Following elections, Netanyahu has publicly vowed that his government will not allow anti-LGBT laws or discrimination against the community, explicitly stating he will not accept harm to LGBT rights in his new government arrangements. These statements often serve as a direct rebuttal or signal to his coalition partners about where he sets the final policy boundaries.

Key Quotes

I just wont accept that. It's not something I'm saying now – I have a record now and a record in general of having two hands on the wheel […] I ultimately decide policy

My government won't harm the LGBT community or the rights of any Israeli citizen

Frequently Asked Questions

Benjamin Netanyahu generally maintains that his government will not actively harm LGBT rights and insists on upholding the current legal status quo. He has publicly stated that his government will not accept discrimination against LGBT citizens. However, his ability to advance rights is often constrained by the demands of his religious and far-right coalition partners.

Yes, his position has shown evolution or conflict, particularly in coalition negotiations. While he previously expressed support for expanding surrogacy for same-sex couples, he later voted against the measure due to pressure from religious parties. His recent public reassurances are often framed as a pushback against the social policy ambitions of his more conservative allies.

Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly vowed that his government will not limit the status quo regarding LGBT rights, specifically stating that pride parades will continue to march. This statement was made in response to concerns and proposals from members of his incoming far-right coalition who had suggested curbing such events, including the Jerusalem Pride Parade.

Sources7

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.