Israel's First Gay Marriage

The first gay couple has registered their marriage in Israel following a Nov. 29 ruling by the High Court of Justice requiring the Israeli government to register same-sex marriages of gay Israelis legally wed abroad.

Avi and Binyamin Rose returned to Jerusalem after having married in Toronto, Canada, in June.

"It was wonderful to get married at the city hall in Toronto, but it was far more important for the State of Israel to recognize us as a couple," Avi Rose told the Jerusalem Post.

"We did the civil ceremony in the hopes that we would eventually be able to make legal what we felt inside. We wanted the government of Israel to recognize that we are a couple."

"It was no more of a statement than (coming from) a 'regular' couple, but we are both committed Zionists and are hopeful that our union will bring more progress on this issue. . . . The protests last year over the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem really spooked us, and many of our friends here chose to leave the city."

"But we are very committed to building our lives in Jerusalem and the Interior Ministry provided us with a very positive experience today."

Same-sex marriages does not receive any official recognition of marriage rights in Israel and the marriage status does not carry any benefits or responsibilities.

According to Israeli law, marriage can only be conducted by a rabbi, which makes the likelihood of gay marriage becoming generally available any time soon very slim.