Israeli marriage laws are perhaps the most backwards aspect of Israeli law. For reasons that aren't really clear to me, only Orthodox Rabbis have a say over marriage laws. Makes me wonder whether my own marriage (presided over by a reform Rabbi) would be quite, shall we say, Kosher in Israel.

It is a very strange aspect in Israeli society. Almost every Israeli I have met has been moderate to liberal and very secular. Of course these are mainly scientists and doctors I am meeting. But their general attitude is to be confused when religion interferes with regular life (e.g. teaching evolution in schools, etc.) And yet the Orthodox have managed to carve out large chunks of power for themselves which is a big problem. As far as I know, this even goes back to the time when Israeli politics was dominated by the Socialist version of Labor. Time was when no other political party could play a dominant role. But right wing Likud finally made an allience with the religious fundamentalist parties, making them a genuine rival to Labor. I am not sure when the Orthodox monopoly on marriage started, but it is strongly defended.

I should note that there is recognition of common law marriage in Israel, as a way of getting around the Orthodox monopoly...but of course that is kind of a gray area of law.