Even so, law enforcement officials told Ynet that community members claim that such events are “engagement parties” rather than wedding ceremonies, which complicates matters under the law.
Israel Police stopped the alleged wedding of a 14-year-old girl and a 41-year-old man from taking place in a home in Yavne’el, southwest of Tiberias, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, a screenshot of a notice describing the event as an “engagement party” between the two was posted to X/Twitter.
However, footage of the police’s raid on the home published on social media by Israeli public broadcaster KAN News showed a young girl in a wedding dress surrounded by what appears to be red petals.
The video also shows police discovering other religious wedding paraphernalia hidden around the home, including the blessing said by a Jewish bride for the groom before the marriage ceremony, a ring, and a ketubah (Jewish marriage contract).
Even so, law enforcement officials told Ynet that community members claim that such events are “engagement parties” rather than wedding ceremonies, which complicates matters under the law.
Without clear evidence, police cannot act
At the same time, the police have opened investigations into the reports of another illegal wedding of a young girl in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community.
In many cases, investigations are opened only retroactively, once a wedding is suspected to have occurred, according to Ynet, which notes that even then, evidence is difficult to gather.
“Even when you arrive at the scene and see her in a wedding dress and he in a suit, it’s not enough,” a police source shared with Ynet. “Without clear proof of marriage, we have no way to act.”
“You have no documentation, no witnesses, and in the end, the couple themselves say they didn’t get married. Without solid evidence, these cases simply don’t hold up.”