Israel Prize winner accused of homophobia

Steinberg, the head of the medical ethics department of the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine and a pediatric neurologist at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, was chosen to receive the prize for creative writing on halachic subjects, specifically the six-volume Encyclopedia of Medical Halacha.

The Knesset members from the far-left party and protesters said that in his encyclopedia, Steinberg attacks homosexuality as criminally deviant, categorizes gays along with prostitutes, condemns the use of condoms as encouraging gay behavior and demands that gays undergo compulsory HIV testing.

"In this year dedicated to tolerance, it is unworthy of Israel to give such a prize to the antithesis of that," Chazan said.

Gay and lesbian student association members also wrote letters to the Education Ministry, which appoints the judges who select the winners. The ministry responded that it cannot rescind the prize because it is awarded independently by committee members.