Gender Segregation Debate Intensifies in Israel Ahead of Elections

A seemingly ordinary street in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak has become the focal point of a national controversy over gender segregation, raising questions about the balance between religious tradition and civil equality in public spaces.

Sidewalk Separation Plan Halted Amid Backlash

Bnei Brak, a city of approximately 200,000 people located just east of Tel Aviv, is widely known as a center of ultra-Orthodox Judaism. According to local reports, the municipality had begun widening sidewalks, installing barriers, and erecting signs designed to physically separate male and female pedestrians along Shlomo HaMelech street. Had the project proceeded, Bnei Brak would have become the first Israeli city with gender-segregated streets.

The initiative drew fierce criticism, and the work was apparently halted. Signs that had already been put in place were taken down. Israeli media reports indicate that city administrators have since backtracked, stating they will reorganize streets temporarily only when large events are planned.

Religious Custom, Public Space, and the Courts

Gender separation is not uncommon in Orthodox Jewish practice. Synagogues maintain separate areas for men and women, and conservative adherents typically avoid physical contact with members of the opposite sex, even in greetings. At weddings and holiday ceremonies, men and women usually sit in separate sections.

The proposed street segregation in Bnei Brak stems from these customs. The neighborhood in question contains banquet halls frequently booked for weddings, and local rabbis sought to have guests arrive already separated by gender. Critics, however, object to the use of Israeli taxpayer funds to impose separation in public spaces that are meant to be neutral.

Less conservative Israelis worry that Bnei Brak could set a precedent empowering Orthodox hardliners, particularly with elections approaching. Israel's Supreme Court has previously struck down attempts at mandatory gender segregation in public areas. A 2011 ruling prohibited enforced separation on public buses, even those serving predominantly conservative neighborhoods, and barred any pressure on women to sit at the back. In 2017, the court ordered the city of Beit Shemesh to remove so-called "decency signs" that dictated female dress codes and instructed women to avoid certain sidewalks near religious schools attended by conservative men. The city was slow to comply, and religious extremists repeatedly reinstalled the signs.

Opponents of the Bnei Brak segregation plan have filed an urgent appeal, hoping the Supreme Court will intervene once again.

Knesset Approves Segregated Degree Programs

Gender equality is also being debated in the academic sphere. Last Thursday, the Knesset approved a law permitting universities and colleges to offer gender-segregated master's and doctoral programs. Similar permission already existed for certain bachelor's degree courses, originally intended to help integrate Orthodox students into higher education and provide opportunities for conservative women who might otherwise not pursue further studies.

The new rule is described as voluntary and is not meant to facilitate segregation outside classrooms. However, local universities protested the legislation ahead of the vote, arguing it could undermine academic standards in fields such as medicine and health, and potentially make it harder for women to access highly specialized professions.

Coalition Pushes Controversial Laws Before Dissolution

The vote on segregated university courses was among the final actions of the current Knesset, which has been dissolved to make way for new elections scheduled for October 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing, religious-nationalist coalition also pushed through several other contentious measures. These include limiting the prosecutor general's powers over the government, passing a law that critics say increases government influence over media, and designating Torah study as a "foundational value" of the country's constitution — a move widely seen as an effort to shield Orthodox men from mandatory military service.

The question of whether Orthodox men should serve in the military has divided Israeli society for years. With demographic trends showing higher birth rates among Orthodox Jewish families compared to non-Orthodox ones, political pressure around these issues continues to mount. All indicators suggest that fundamental debates about the nature of Israeli society will play a significant role in the upcoming elections.

As Israel heads toward the polls, the tension between religious tradition and democratic equality shows no sign of resolution. Will the courts and voters reaffirm existing protections, or will conservative forces reshape public life? Share this article and join the conversation about Israel's future.

Source: DW – World