"They want us less": The nightmare of hundreds of Israelis in the sought-after surrogacy destination

Hundreds of Israelis in the midst of surrogacy procedures in Colombia fear they will not be able to complete the process, following a new bill that threatens up to 16 years in prison for surrogacy companies. The CELAGEM clinic, one of the largest, has stopped recruiting new surrogates, leaving families who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in uncertainty.

Hundreds of Israelis in the midst of surrogacy procedures in Colombia fear they will not be able to complete the process, following a growing public and legal struggle against surrogacy in the country. A new bill submitted to Congress last July seeks to ban surrogacy, prevent the activity of intermediary companies, and impose prison sentences of 10 to 16 years on those involved in organizing the procedures. The proposal also includes restrictions on the entry of foreign citizens into the country for surrogacy and stricter rules for registering parenthood. The CELAGEM clinic, one of the largest in Colombia, recently announced it would stop recruiting new surrogates, leaving families who have already invested tens of thousands of dollars in uncertainty. Eyal Harel-Shamir, a father of three children who is in his fourth surrogacy procedure, spoke about the feeling of lack of control and fear. Colombia has become a sought-after destination due to relatively low costs of $70,000-80,000, compared to more than double in the US. According to estimates, between 600 and 800 Israeli couples begin surrogacy procedures abroad each year, and hundreds of them in Colombia. Alongside the legislation, a campaign against surrogacy was promoted in Bogotá under the slogan "Bogotá is not for rent." The company Tamuz, which accompanies Israelis in the procedures, is working to locate surrogates through alternative means and offers a move to other clinics or additional countries while subsidizing part of the costs.