Gay father of twins can’t enter Israel

An Israeli gay father whose twin sons were born to a surrogate mother in Mumbai has, for now, been denied permission to take the children to Jerusalem.

An Israeli gay father whose twin sons were born to a surrogate mother in Mumbai has, for now, been denied permission to take the children to Jerusalem.

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Don Goldberg, a Jerusalem restaurateur, and his twins — Itai and Liron — have been staying in a Mumbai hotel for the past two months awaiting permission from the Jerusalem Family Court to proceed with a paternity test to determine if he is their biological father.

“We are aware of the case and are trying to help Goldberg and his partner,” said Israeli Consul General in Mumbai, Orna Sagiv.

The twins will not be granted entry to Israel, nor will they be eligible to receive citizenship, health insurance or medical treatments, until the paternity test is performed.

“I’m an Israeli citizen. I served in a combat unit during two intifadas. I've also volunteered with the police for years. But when I want to realise my right to be a parent, the state kicks me to the curb,” Goldberg told an Israeli daily.