ISRAEL/SAME-SEX UNION: Tel Aviv has granted same-sex couples the same city discounts as married couples in what homosexuals hailed as a step towards full integration.
Gay residents who declare their union in a notarised statement will be authorised to receive discounts for city services and sites such as sports centres and museums, the Tel Aviv municipality said yesterday.
"The achievement here goes well beyond money," said Mr Adi Steiner, the municipality's liaison officer for Tel Aviv's gay community.
"With this act of recognition, Israel has come closer to the liberal policies of nations such as Canada and Holland." Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean coast, has a reputation for being more liberal than other Israeli cities. - (Reuters)