Orthodox Jewish Women's Organizations Barred from Knesset Discussion on Gender Segregation Rights

Two prominent women's organizations in the Orthodox Jewish community were denied entry to a Knesset discussion on the "right to gender segregation" on July 10^th, 2023. The Centre for Women's Justice, representing women in rabbinical courts, and the Orthodox feminist group Kolech: Religious Women's Forum reported being turned away from the Knesset session.

According to Israel's state television Kan, the reason provided for their exclusion was the presence of sufficient organizations representing Haredi women at the conference. However, sources close to the event's organizer, MK Limor Son Har-Melech of the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party, stated that only invited organizations and the parliamentary lobby group were allowed to attend. Kan's attempt to seek clarification from Har-Melech went unanswered.

Critics raised concerns about Anat Gopstein, a founder of the Knesset legislative lobby group on women's rights in the religious community and a member of the far-right, anti-marriage party Lehava, attending the event. The exclusion of women's organizations from the discussion further highlights the controversy surrounding the event.

Nivcharot, an organization of ultra-Orthodox feminists, expressed disappointment over their activists' rejected requests to participate. In a statement, they said, "We were disappointed to hear that this new lobby group, which claims to represent us instead of the non-existent female ultra-Orthodox members of Knesset, was unwilling to permit even one of us to join their ranks."

Four of the 16 MPs from the lobby group, which encompasses various political parties including Likud, ultra-Orthodox factions, and the far-right Otzma Yehudit, are women. This development comes on the heels of a Knesset committee approving Son Har-Melech's proposal to transfer responsibility for gender equality to the Ministry for the Advancement of the Status of Women, led by May Golan, a minister criticized for her stance on women's rights.

Opposition parties, including Yesh Atid and the National Unity Party, have voiced concerns that such a reallocation would politicize the body, leading to heightened debates and potential challenges in achieving gender equality.

The exclusion of significant women's organizations from the Knesset discussion and the ongoing controversies surrounding gender segregation rights underscore the complex and evolving nature of gender-related issues within the Orthodox Jewish community in Israel.