We all know Israel as a bastion of democracy in a part of the world where that concept is more the exception than the rule. But after reading about Israel's divorce laws, you start to realize that the country is as ass-backward as many others.

There is a new amendment that's working its way through the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) that would make things significantly better for women in divorce cases. But it is meeting with resistance and may not end up being enacted into law. The new proposal would allow civil and rabbinical courts to divide marital assets before a divorce is finalized. Currently, the division happens after the divorce is finalized, and since men have to give consent for divorce they can usually strong-arm their soon-to-be ex-wives into giving them most of what they want.

Just writing that explanation made me glad I live in the U.S.

The new law would also place more emphasis on professional accomplishments gained during a marriage. So if a woman earned a degree or a promotion, she would have a significant claim on the assets the couple accrued as a result of her advancement.

The fact that they need new laws like this in 2008 (or whatever year it is on the Israeli calendar) is really pretty discouraging.

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