SAVE 50%
FACTORY DIRECT

OPTIONS.

Women's Groups
Oppose Surrogacy

Jerusalem (JTA) — A proposed
law to legalize surrogate mother-
hood in Israel is at the center of a
debate between those who want to
satisfy the desires of infertile cou-
ples and those, such as women's
groups and some rabbis, who op-
pose the very notion of surrogacy.
For the hundreds of infertile Is-
raeli couples who see surrogacy
as their only hope of having a
child, the issue is clear: The pro-
posed law, which just passed the
first of three required readings in
the Knesset and is now being de-
bated, must not place "unreason-
able" limitations on the couple or
the surrogate mother.
For others, including women's
rights activists and the rabbini-
cal establishment, the issue is
equally clear-cut.
Women's groups charge that
surrogacy violates the surrogate
mother's civil rights by turning
her into a "womb for hire."
Rabbis, including Yehuda Ami-
tal, whom Prime Minister Shi-
mon Peres recently appointed to
the Cabinet as a minister with-
out portfolio, believe that the bill,
as drafted, violates Jewish law.
If the surrogacy bill becomes
law, Israel will become the second
country to legalize surrogacy, fol-
lowing in the footsteps of England.
Some U.S. states have also
passed surrogacy legislation.
While the debate rages inside
and outside the Knesset, no one
can deny that Israel is already at
the forefront of fertility technolo-
gY.
However, even though tens of
thousands of infertile Israeli cou-
ples benefit from in vitro fertil-
ization and other standard
fertility techniques, thousands
more never conceive.
Some, mostly well-to-do and
younger than 40, are able to adopt
either in Israel or overseas.
Until now, many had no oth-
er options.
About 50 infertile couples pe-
titioned the High Court more
than a year ago, arguing that the
regulations banning surrogacy
were illegal because they violat-
ed their civil rights.
The High Court agreed with
the petitioners, ruling that the
regulations would be abolished
Dec. 31, 1995. The court ordered
the Knesset to come up with a law
that would regulate every aspect
of surrogacy, from the issue of
payment to the mother to the
identity of sperm donors.
Although the new law was to
go into effect to coincide with the
abolishment of the anti-surroga-
cy legislation, it is still tied up in
the Knesset.
To prevent the unregulated
practice of surrogacy until the bill
is approved, the High Court has
given the Knesset until March 7
to finalize a new law.

Factory Showroom.

WALL UNITS
BEDROOMS
HOME OFFICE
TABLES, CHAIRS
MARBLE
AND MORE!

Your design or ours
in your choice
of style and finish.

CUSTOM HOME OFFICE • COMPARE AT $3450 $ 1 6 8 8

OPTI

1950 S. Telegraph Rd.,

on west side of Telegraph,
1/2 Mile North Of Square Lake Rd.
Bloomfield Hills

810.332.8855

WRAP BEDROOM •UNLIMITED SIZE & FINISH OPTIONS

Hours: 1 1-5:30 Mon.,Wed., Thur., Fri. & Sat. Closed Sundays & Tuesdays

Heating and Air Conditioning

Ask about our
Preventive
Maintenance
Program

810-335-4555

24 HOUR EMERGENCY.SERV10E

3rd ANNUAL WINTER SALE
1E22,96 thru 1i27i196

30 75% OFF most winter yarns*
imaainKnit

-

29791 Northwestern Hwy. , Southfield, MI

810-355-1400

MCs • Disc Jockeys • Dancers

ery Simukasts • B i g Sc:reens • LOting • Karaoke

ti

Rick Benton

(810) 626-9550

Store Hours
M, T, W, & F 10-5
10-7
Thurs.
10-4
Sat.

*Cash Only
Final Sale

121