The Knesset Education Committee on Monday approved for second and third (final) readings a bill that would permit gender segregation in advanced-degree programs and in public campus spaces such as libraries, cafeterias, and labs, according to i24NEWS and ynet. Sponsored by MK Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit), the legislation now proceeds to the Knesset plenum.
The Knesset Education Committee voted Monday to advance MK Limor Son Har-Melech's bill expanding gender segregation in Israeli academia to its final readings in the plenum. The legislation, which overturned a High Court ruling that had barred separate-sex classes in advanced-degree programs, also permits segregation in common campus spaces — libraries, cafeterias, and labs — according to multiple reports.
Son Har-Melech said the bill "restores freedom of choice to academia" and corrects a "radical progressive worldview" imposed by the courts. University heads had issued an urgent letter Sunday warning that the policy would create "second-class degrees for women," harm research and training in therapeutic professions, and require costly duplicate facilities.
As The Zioneer reported, the committee began debating the bill earlier this week amid heated exchanges — including the removal of MK Naama Lazimi (The Democrats) from a discussion on Monday morning.
4 developments
- DevelopingKnesset Education Committee begins voting on academic gender segregation bill
- DevelopingMK Naama Lazimi removed from Knesset committee discussion on academic gender segregation bill
- StrongNaamat chair urges boycotting universities that enforce gender segregation law
- DevelopingKnesset advances bill extending statute of limitations for sex offenses
Source and signal
- Internal intake