‘This isn’t Iran’ – Ultra-Orthodox demand for gender segregation condemned

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism and Religious Zionism parties have issued a fresh demand to Prime Minister designate Netanyahu calling for gender segregation at publicly-funded events.

Israel Hayom reported that the two parties issued the demand to incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as coalition talks continued in its second week.

Gender segregation at publicly funded events is currently prohibited in Israel under the anti-discrimination laws.

The demand was met with fierce criticism by outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid who said that at a time when “brave women in Iran are fighting for their rights, in Israel (Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel) Smotrich and his ultra-Orthodox nationalists are trying to place women behind barriers and legalise separating men from women. Where is Likud? Why are they being silent? This isn’t Iran.”

Leader of the Labor Party Minister Merav Michaeli also issued harsh condemnation, saying “there’s no such thing as separate but equal.”

“We warned that a coalition without women would harm women, and they are already demanding that not only they, but also the law, will be able to put women to the back. Women are no less equal. Nobody has the right to decide for anyone else where they sit, what they wear or whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. This is the fight for our democracy.”

A number of demands in recent weeks made by the far-right and ultra-orthodox parties have sparked intense debates in Israel and among Diaspora Jews.

Among the most controversial are calls for an end to Gay Parades, nixing the “grandchild clause” from the Law of Return, ending recognition of Reform conversions for Israeli citizenship, and curbing the power of Israel’s High Court of Justice.