Another minor on the way to the chuppah - and the police are helpless: This is how the method works in Yavne'el
Another wedding with a minor bride is taking place today in the settlement, in violation of the law. The police are aware of the event but claim that chuppahs are held in secret locations, making it impossible to file indictments without direct proof of marriage. Background: At least 67 pregnancies among minors have been documented in the area since 2019.
The phenomenon of child marriages in Yavne'el continues, and today (Sunday) another wedding is taking place in the community where the bride is a minor, in violation of the legal prohibition. The police are aware of the event and are working to enforce the law, but admit there is significant difficulty in gathering evidence that would allow for the prosecution of those involved.
A police source stated that officers are aware of both the phenomenon and the wedding taking place today. According to him, the police try to intervene where events are held, but the ceremony itself is hidden from the authorities.
"We are aware of the events and the party today, and are trying to act in the places where the weddings are held," the source said. "However, the chuppah, which is the central evidence of the crime, takes place in secret locations rather than at public or ostentatious events."
He added that even when investigators manage to locate correspondence between the groom and the bride or other evidence that apparently indicates a marital relationship, the state does not view this as a sufficient basis for intervention or for filing an indictment, as long as there is no direct proof that the marriage ceremony actually took place.
In one recent case, the police obtained a letter written by a minor to her partner, which she signed with the words "Your loving wife." In the letter, she wrote: "Thank you very much for everything, I love you the most in the world, there is no one like you." Despite the explicit wording, even this letter was not considered sufficient evidence to prove the existence of a marriage.
67 pregnancies of minors since 2019
The current event takes place against the backdrop of serious data recently revealed regarding the scope of the phenomenon in Yavne'el. According to data provided by the Clalit and Leumit HMOs to the Chair of the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women, MK Merav Cohen, at least 67 cases of pregnancy among minors have been documented in the area since 2019.
The data shows that 59 cases of minors who became pregnant before the age of 18 were identified in the Leumit HMO, and eight cases of pregnancy among girls under 16 were documented in Clalit. In addition, 13 cases were reported in which girls under 16 received hormonal treatment to regulate their menstrual cycle—a figure that raised concerns in the committee that factors within the community are systematically encouraging pregnancy at a young age.
Yavne'el, a local council in the Lower Galilee, has been home for decades to a large community of Breslov Hasidim identified with "Heichal HaKodesh" and Rabbi Eliezer Shlomo Schick, known as the "Tzadik of Yavne'el." Educational and religious institutions operate around the community, which is considered one of the most prominent in the settlement.
Following the exposure of the data, MK Cohen stated that this phenomenon requires intervention and enforcement. "The data shows that there is a community policy to encourage minors to become pregnant, among other things by regulating their menstrual cycle," she said. "The days when the legislator closes his eyes are over. Marrying off minors is a violation of the law. This is harm to girls and boys that stems from an extremist religious ideology and preserves the control of influential people in the community."
