The Research Directorate asked the Israeli Ministry of Health to verify the following information culled from ISR25106.E of 27 September 1996:

Non-ritual circumcision is readily available to non-Jews in Israel. The only difficulty [that] non-Jews who desire to be circumcised or have their children circumcised in Israel encounter is that doctors who are religious Jews would probably refuse to perform the operation on non-Jews; however, doctors who are secular Jews would have no such reservations....

Ritual and non-ritual circumcisions are performed by doctors in hospitals and private clinics outside hospitals. Ritual circumcision is state-funded, and the person who desired a non-ritual circumcision would be required to pay for it....

Non-religious circumcision of non-Jews by non-Rabbis in Israel is done primarily in hospitals, as there are few "walk-in" clinics in Israel, and it is performed by urologists or surgeons. The reasons may be medical, cosmetic or a desire to better integrate into Israeli society. The last reason is the most common, and is often the reason given by immigrants who consider themselves to be Jews and have Jewish fathers, but who are not regarded as Jewish by the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate. The fee for non-religious circumcision is approximately $US500. Religious and non-religious circumcision is performed in the major hospitals in the larger cities and towns.

In correspondence received on 11 June 2003, the Deputy Director General, Information and International Relations of the Israeli Ministry of Health, Department of International Relations, stated that these comments "are currently true."

Commenting on whether a secular doctor would inquire into an individual's motive for wanting a non-ritual circumcision, the Deputy Director General stated:

a secular physician would indeed inquire into an individual's motive for wanting the operation. The reason would be to assure that there is no psychiatric disorder involved in his desire to be circumcised. Such an inquiry is the same as for any cosmetic operation (Israel 11 June 2003).

When asked whether a Rabbi would perform a non-ritual circumcision, the source replied:

ritual circumcisions are preformed by a mohel and not by a rabbi. Therefore, rabbis do not perform circumcisions, whether for religious or other reasons. A mohel would refuse to perform a circumcision for any reason other than religious. Further, a mohel is not licensed to perform a circumcision for any reason other than religious (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Israel. 11 June 2003. Ministry of Health, Department of International Relations. Correspondence received from the Deputy Director General, Information and International Relations.

Additional Sources Consulted

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Chairperson of the Society for Patient's Rights in Israel, Tel Aviv

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Commissioner of Public Inquiries of Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the National Insurance Institute, Department of Health, Jerusalem

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Ombudsman for the National Health Insurance Fund, Jerusalem

Internet sites, including:

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)-Brookdale

Berit Mila (Bris)

Clalit Health Services

Israel. Ministry of Health
Israel. Ministry of Health, Health Council.

Rights of the Insured According to the National Health Insurance Law

Israel. Ministry of Immigrant Absorbtion

Jesin Circumcision Clinic, Downsview, ON.

National Health Insurance Institute of Israel