The Knesset has passed an amendment to the Spouses Property Law, which will put an end to a husband's ability to demand all the couple's assets before agreeing to a divorce. The law, which enables the civil courts to conclude the division of assets before the rabbinical courts grant a get, or religious divorce, was formulated and lobbied for by NIF grantee International Coalition for Agunah Rights (ICAR).

"This new law is a major breakthrough," explains Robyn Shames, Executive Director of ICAR. "It greatly reduces the opportunities for blackmail by husbands in dividing up a couple's assets and will assist women in obtaining a get." 

There are thousands of mesorvei get in Israel, women whose husbands refuse them a divorce.    Many of these men use the situation to hold their wives’ property rights hostage, only agreeing to a divorce after wives have relinquished all the marital assets.

The amendment to the law, passed by a large Knesset majority of 58 to 21, marked the first time that legislation has been enacted to attempt to reduce the number of Agunot and Mesorvei Get.

However, Shames stresses that despite this latest victory, ICAR's struggle goes on. This new measure will not help the thousands of women whose husbands have disappeared, or who refuse to grant them a divorce for reasons other than seeking financial gain.