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| Israel education minister defends 'gay conversion therapy' | Israel education minister defends 'gay conversion therapy' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Israeli Education Minister Rafi Peretz has said he believes so-called "gay conversion therapy" can work, triggering widespread condemnation. | Israeli Education Minister Rafi Peretz has said he believes so-called "gay conversion therapy" can work, triggering widespread condemnation. |
| "I think it's possible," Mr Peretz, an Orthodox rabbi, told Israel's Channel 12 TV channel. He added that he had "a very deep familiarity with the issue". | "I think it's possible," Mr Peretz, an Orthodox rabbi, told Israel's Channel 12 TV channel. He added that he had "a very deep familiarity with the issue". |
| PM Benjamin Netanyahu said such remarks were "unacceptable". Other politicians and gay groups also voiced criticism. | PM Benjamin Netanyahu said such remarks were "unacceptable". Other politicians and gay groups also voiced criticism. |
| "Gay conversion therapy" has been widely discredited around the world. | "Gay conversion therapy" has been widely discredited around the world. |
| The practice attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation through psychological, spiritual and sometimes physical means. | The practice attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation through psychological, spiritual and sometimes physical means. |
| What did Mr Peretz say? | What did Mr Peretz say? |
| "I think that it is possible to convert [someone's sexual orientation]," Mr Peretz said on Saturday. | "I think that it is possible to convert [someone's sexual orientation]," Mr Peretz said on Saturday. |
| "I can tell you that I have deep familiarity on the issue of education, and I have also done this." | "I can tell you that I have deep familiarity on the issue of education, and I have also done this." |
| He described how he had acted when a gay person told him about his sexual inclinations. | He described how he had acted when a gay person told him about his sexual inclinations. |
| "First of all, I embraced him. I said very warm things to him. I told him, 'Let's think. Let's study. And let's contemplate.' | "First of all, I embraced him. I said very warm things to him. I told him, 'Let's think. Let's study. And let's contemplate.' |
| "The objective is first of all for him to know himself well... and then he will decide," Mr Peretz said. | "The objective is first of all for him to know himself well... and then he will decide," Mr Peretz said. |
| He later attempted to clarify his comments, saying he did not intend that gay children must be sent to "conversion therapy", the Jerusalem Post reports. | He later attempted to clarify his comments, saying he did not intend that gay children must be sent to "conversion therapy", the Jerusalem Post reports. |
| How did Israel react to Mr Peretz's comments? | How did Israel react to Mr Peretz's comments? |
| Mr Netanyahu said: "The education minister's remarks regarding the pride community are unacceptable to me and do not reflect the position of the government that I head." | |
| The prime minister said he had personally spoken to Mr Peretz, a leading member of the ultranationalist United Right alliance, to express his criticism. | The prime minister said he had personally spoken to Mr Peretz, a leading member of the ultranationalist United Right alliance, to express his criticism. |
| Nitzan Horowitz, who leads the left-wing Meretz party, said "gay conversion therapy" was a dangerous practice which causes extremely severe circumstances for youths, including suicide". | Nitzan Horowitz, who leads the left-wing Meretz party, said "gay conversion therapy" was a dangerous practice which causes extremely severe circumstances for youths, including suicide". |
| Israel's LGBT Task Force, the Aguda, called for the resignation of Mr Peretz. | Israel's LGBT Task Force, the Aguda, called for the resignation of Mr Peretz. |