Announcing the move at a news conference on 4 January, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz confirmed that a circular had been issued by the ministry which equalises access to surrogacy. “It is a historic day for the LGBTQ struggle in Israel,” he said.
Surrogacy was previously only available to heterosexual couples and single women, vastly limiting those able to use the means of becoming parents. “Today, we are putting an end to years of injustice and discrimination,” the Health Minister, who is also openly gay, added. “A week from today, we will also give equal access to surrogacy in Israel to single men, future fathers, as well as [male] homosexual couples – actually to any individual.