The diamond dealer and his wife's dispute that led to a ruling that could affect many divorce cases

The Tel Aviv District Court ruled in a financial dispute between a diamond dealer and his wife, determining that compensation for income gaps between spouses constitutes an asset subject to division, even if the wife is entitled to a higher amount than the property division. The husband was ordered to pay an additional approximately 200,000 shekels plus interest.

The Tel Aviv District Court ruled this month in a financial dispute between a diamond dealer and his wife, who were married for 30 years and had two daughters. The ruling determines that compensation for income gaps between spouses constitutes an asset subject to division, even if the wife is entitled to a higher amount than the property division. The judges ordered the husband to pay the wife approximately 200,000 shekels plus interest, in addition to 4.4 million shekels she will receive from the property division. The husband established a successful diamond business and earned an average net income of about 18,000 shekels, while the wife received minimum wage, despite having earned a bachelor's and master's degree in law. The battle over property lasted more than six years. The court determined that this is a clear case of significant income gaps, given the long marriage and the wife's age. Lawyers for both sides provided responses, and an expert predicts the issue will appear in other cases.