Israeli lawmakers push through gender-segregated university bill despite court concerns

After 18 months of protracted debate, Israeli legislators are moving closer to passing a controversial law that would allow gender-segregated classes at university level, potentially circumventing a previous High Court decision. The bill, championed by coalition MP Simcha Har-Melekh, is expected to reach final parliamentary votes in the Knesset in coming weeks, marking a significant shift in Israel’s approach to mixed-gender higher education.

The proposed legislation would extend segregated study options beyond undergraduate programmes to postgraduate and advanced degree courses. Supporters argue the measure would accommodate ultra-Orthodox and religiously observant students whose personal beliefs make mixed-gender education problematic. However, the bill has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and legal experts who argue it contradicts principles of equal opportunity and may violate existing Supreme Court rulings on the matter.

The expansion of segregation proposals has become increasingly ambitious during the legislative process. Coalition MP Moshe Tayeb of the Shas party has suggested widening the scope beyond classrooms, proposing that separation measures be implemented in other university spaces and settings. This broader approach has raised fresh concerns among opponents, who question where such measures might end and what other institutional separations might follow.

The debate reflects broader tensions within Israeli society between secular democratic values and the demands of ultra-Orthodox communities, whose political parties hold significant influence in the current coalition government. The bill’s advancement suggests the coalition has sufficient numbers to push it through parliament, though implementation details and potential legal challenges remain unresolved.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.