Israeli Ambassador to Be Accompanied On Posting by British Gay Spouse
November 30, 2009
The soon to be ambassador to Angola, Yitzhak (Izzy) Yanouka, will be accompanied by his British male partner, the first gay spouse to do so in Israel.
UK-born, raised and educated Mikie Goldstein, will accompany his male partner to Luanda, Angola, for the duration of his posting as ambassador.
Yanouka’s position as ambassador is expected to be formally ratified by parliament as it has already received the nod of approval from both the appointments committee of the Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Israeli reportedly has 4 gay ambassadors, but Mikie Goldstein and Yitzhak (Izzy) Yanouka will be the first couple who will officially be in residence as spouses.
Mr Goldstein, who grew up in Liverpool and studied in Manchester, immigrated to Israel in 1989 said: “This is not the first time that I will be going on assignment abroad with Izzy, and I am entitled to full-time employment in the Israeli embassy. In Brazil I served as the hasbarah officer and most recently in Dublin I was the cultural attaché from 2004-2006.”
“That marriage does not have civil status, but under Israeli law if a couple have lived together for more than two years then they are recognised as common law spouses.”
“I feel I am pushing out new boundaries for the gay community, and I will have a chance to do other things. I will also be able to continue my fundraising activities for the Masorti movement and Jerusalem Open House.
“Israel’s Foreign Ministry has been a world leader in its attitudes to gay rights. The UK Foreign Ministry has also been very progressive although the US State Department has only moved forward since the appointment of Hillary Clinton. Generally the world’s diplomatic community has many openly gay people and attending parties on the international circuit is no problem. I have always been fully accepted as Izzy’s spouse. It probably bothers some of the conservative Muslim countries but then they don’t speak to Israelis anyway.”
As part of his new role he said he was looking forward to when his partner and soon to be ambassador had to presents his credentials to the Angolan president as well as the formal Independence Day function at the residence.
Image Source: http://www.khirman.com
