Israel

We acknowledge that the inclusion of Israel may seem counterintuitive to many, due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestine Conflict and in particular the Gaza war that started in 2023. As a reminder, the goal of this Wiki is to provide research and information to allow all trans people to find safer places and provide enough information so that you as an individual trans person can identify if a particular destination is safe for you specifically. In the case of Israel, even with the war, trans Jews who may not find safety in other countries due to a variety of religious and racial factors may find it safer in Israel than the United States at the present time. To ascertain if that includes you, please read on.

This page is under construction, but in the interim, you can review information at the following websites for information on making Aliyah to Israel, if that’s an option for you given Jewish heritage or orthodox conversion.

https://nbn.org.il

https://jewishagency.org

Israel is a comparatively LGBTQ+-friendly country located in the Middle East, with legal protections for trans people.

Why Israel?

• Legal gender recognition:
  • ID changes are allowed on Teudat Zehut and other documents such as passports with a doctor’s note.
• Anti-discrimination laws:
  • Anti-discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and existing hate crime and slander laws.
• Public healthcare:
  • Surgery, HRT/GAHT, mental healthcare, and other gender affirming medical care is covered under public health insurance. Most care is also available inside the country.
• LGBTQ+ rights and community:
  • Tel Aviv has a large queer community and is actually occasional referred to as the gay/LGBTQ capital of the Middle East, other cities such as Haifa and Eilat are also viable.
    • There are very well-known LGBTQ celebrities and advocates in the country such as Dana International (Sharon Cohen) and Netta Barzilai who have created a positive image for the community in many parts of the country.
  • The Israeli military has allowed transgender soldiers to serve since the 90s.
  • Same-sex marriages performed overseas as recognized in Israel, and same-sex adoptions are allowed.
  • Secular LGBTQ lifestyles are not unheard throughout the country, many people in the country are irreligious or non-practicing, especially in cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Eilat, and even certain parts of Jerusalem.
• Immigration pathways:
  • Aliyah and A-1 (א-1) visa under Law of Return.
    • Immigration under Law of Return is reportedly comparatively quick if you have all documents already available.
    • A-1 visa allows someone eligible under Law of Return to live and work in Israel without taking up citizenship.
    • Paid higher education, healthcare subsidies, absorption basket (monies), free Hebrew classes, and other government benefits for new Olim.
  • Marriage to an Israeli.
  • Work visas

Why not Israel?

• Marriage laws are managed by Rabbinical courts inside the country. You cannot enter a same-sex/gender marriage from inside the country, albeit marriages performed overseas are recognized.
• Military service may be required for younger olim (<26 years old).
• Passport issuance requires a time of residence inside the country for a full validity passport.
• It is comparatively difficult to emigrate to the country if you were not born a Jew, as the only alternative to get in under Law of Return is by an Orthodox conversion.
• The country is under threat by Iran and other neighbors.
• Israel is a party to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is in current conflict with Palestinians in Gaza.
  • There are various perspectives on this conflict internally, some individuals consider this conflict a genocide against Palestinians.
  • Others consider it a justified act of self-defense due to the attack on Israel on October 7, 2003, with a proportionate, or perhaps disproportionate response.
• The general opinion of religious Israeli Jews, Arabs, and Palestinians of trans and non-binary people is negative. However, it is typically easy to avoid overtly religious communities.
• No legal recognition of non-binary identities and many single sex/gender spaces, in particular in religious spaces.
• No tax totalization treaty with the United States.
• You are legally classified by your religious group, e.g. Muslim, Jewish, Christian. Marriage and personal status laws are dictated by your legal religious classification.

Political Situation for Trans People

• The current government under Benjamin Netanyahu (led by Likud) is pro-LGBTQ due to Netanyahu’s influence.
• Israel is a multi-racial country due to Jews coming from all over the world, and being of color while being trans is generally not an issue. Especially in certain cities like Haifa and Jerusalem, the population also isn’t even entirely/mostly Jewish, and there is a large Arab Christian/Muslim presence.
• The most recent opposition government led by Benny Gantz (National Unity) is also pro-LGBTQ.
• Palestinians who are LGBTQ regularly take up asylum in Israel due to non-acceptance in Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank).

Access to Trans Healthcare

• Available through public health insurance providers, many gender affirming procedures, including FFS and bottom surgery, are available in Tel Aviv. Hormone Replacement and therapy is also available.

Immigration Policy

US citizens need/don't need a visa to move to COUNTRY for. Which languages are the processes done in? What are the options/limitations/etc? Examples are below

• Student Visa: Available to …
• Family-Route: …
• Work Visa: …

Medical Inadmissibility

Does the COUNTRY in question have immigration laws that would find people with disabilities or health challenges inadmissible to emigrate there?

Permanent Residency

What's the pathway if there is one?

Citizenship Pathway

How do you get to be a citizen if at all?

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

What are potentially good places to live in?

• City A
• City B
• …

Top Trans-Friendly Cities

• please add

Community & Support Resources

• What local communities and support structures are there?

National Organizations

• please add

Cost of Living

• The cost of living in COUNTRY is how comparable to the US/where in the US?
• Rent is…
• Public transport …
• Healthcare is free/expensive…
• Grocery prices …
• Education is

Housing Access & Cost

• add details on discrimination in rentals if applicable
• also how easy is it to rent/buy etc

Law Enforcement ("How bad are the cops?")

• please add details, especially around safety for trans people

Censorship & Digital Privacy

• please add details

Ease of Travel to Other Countries

• What about neighboring countries, visas for those, airports to travel etc.

Animal Policies

• Is COUNTRY is pet-friendly or not
• What do you need to do to bring a pet?
• Consider adding a section on the Traveling with pets page