Israeli Court Rules in Gay Couples’ Favor
Israel’s Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that El Al airline must extend the same benefits to partners of gay employees as it does to partners of heterosexuals.
In a decision hailed as a victory by gays and assailed by rabbis, the court upheld the petition of El Al flight attendant Jonathan Danilovitz, who fought a five-year court battle to force Israel’s national carrier to honor his request for an annual complimentary flight with his partner.
Danilovitz turned to a labor court in 1989 when the airline rejected his request for the flight, a privilege extended to heterosexual couples. The labor court ruled in his favor.
Wednesday the Supreme Court rejected El Al’s appeal, saying the airline must extend equal rights to gay couples.
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