Israeli Family Law Experts Call for Criminal Charges Against Parental Alienation

At a recent Duns 100 forum convened by Dun & Bradstreet, leading Israeli family law professionals discussed the evolving challenges in family law, including the growing complexity of disputes, the impact of technology, and the increasing involvement of rabbinical courts in civil matters. The forum addressed key issues such as child support, prenuptial agreements, inheritance, arbitration, and international family law.

Shila Zabar Weiss, Senior Director at Duns 100, highlighted the shift from conflict management to risk management in family disputes, emphasizing early planning and the influence of AI on work and family dynamics. She noted the new rabbinical court procedure for urgent intervention in cases of parental alienation as an attempt to address crises proactively.

The forum's most heated debate centered on parental alienation and contact refusal. Attorney Ruth Dayan Wolfner observed a recent judicial retreat in addressing parental alienation, with some courts imposing financial penalties for visitation violations but overall slow progress. Attorney Yael Gil described severe cases involving child trauma and parental incitement, calling for legislative action to criminalize parental alienation.

Attorney Hussein Zgair, experienced in various religious courts, stressed the lack of scientific expertise among judges and lawyers in handling such cases and advocated for specialized training. Maya Rotenberg distinguished parental alienation from failed parental relationships, warning against the dilution of the term and supporting criminalization as a form of abuse.

Other attorneys shared cases where financial sanctions restored parent-child contact and criticized the limited time experts dedicate to cases, which hampers effective resolution. Concerns were raised about ethical boundaries for lawyers interacting with minors and the misuse of serious allegations to expedite hearings, which could undermine genuine cases.

Financial barriers to managing complex cases were also discussed, with calls for interim funding to enable fair legal processes. The forum underscored the urgent need for clearer legal frameworks, scientific understanding, and judicial resources to effectively address parental alienation and related family law challenges in Israel.