Netanyahu condemns far-right ally’s anti-LGBT comments, vows to protect rights

Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned one of his new coalition allies Sunday after a lawmaker with the Religious Zionist Party said a doctor shouldn’t be forced to provide treatment that contradicts his or her religious beliefs “as long as there are other doctors who can provide the same service.”

Speaking to the Israeli public radio station Kan, Orit Strock, a member of Israel’s parliament in the Religious Zionist Party, said she wants to change the country’s anti-discrimination law to allow people to avoid activity that is against their religious beliefs. She said she “cannot fathom the thought that the Halakhic law will be seen as a discrimination on religious grounds in the Jewish state we established after 2,000 years of exile and self-sacrifice.”

A coalition agreement was reached last week between the Likud and United Torah Judaism parties, determining that private businesses can refuse to provide a service due to their religious beliefs as long as an alternative can be provided nearby at a similar price.

NETANYAHU UNVEILS NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT, USHERING IN RETURN TO PRIME MINISTERSHIP

Netanyahu said he rejects Strock’s statements, saying they are unacceptable and that the coalition agreement “does not allow discrimination against LGBTQ or harming their right to receive services like all other Israeli citizens.”

“We cannot discriminate against LGBTQ or harm the rights of Israeli citizens. There will be no situation in a country that I lead that any person, either a him or a her, LGBTQ, Arab, ultra-Orthodox, or any other, will go to a hotel and not be served or go to a doctor and not be treated. This hasn’t happened in the last 15 years of my premiership, and it won’t happen now,” Netanyahu said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Last month, Netanyahu and his allies received a majority of seats in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. He said he formed a new coalition last week, but Netanyahu and his coalition are still finalizing their power-sharing agreements. This comes after Netanyahu served for 12 years as prime minister before he was ousted from power last year.

The incoming government includes the Religious Zionist Party, whose leaders are known to be outwardly homophobic.

Related Content