Israeli Feminist Groups Protest Against Segregated Buses

[Purveyor]

JERUSALEM — Hundreds of Israelis staged a protest on Saturday against gender discrimination on some bus routes in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods, where women are made to sit at the back.

Around 1,000 men and women gathered outside the Jerusalem home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, holding up placards reading "Israel is not Tehran" and "Democracy, not theocracy," an AFP correspondent said.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni sent the protesters a message of support, saying that "those who relegate women to the back of the bus consign them to the edge of society."

On some bus routes through ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods of the holy city, women are made to sit at the rear of the vehicles while men are allowed in the front.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h96xO5jZawjtAmW_4CuNe35ohf0Q

[tigereye]

1. saw an article here about congregations also supporting women praying

at the Western Wall as well.

[oberliner]

2. Very cool - thanks for posting!

And good on Livni for her message of support!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. That is not quite how it works...

All routes have regular (non-religious) buses. Some routes in also have religious buses. Both are clearly identified. Last I heard, there are no routes that have only religious buses. There have been some publicized Rosa Parks incidents on the religious buses that have been quite controversial. What has not happened yet (to my knowledge) is groups of women (vice singletons)able to protect themselves getting on the religious buses in groups and sitting up front. When it happens and the hareidi men get some well deserved beatdowns, it will be interesting to see what happens.

[Lithos]

4. Hope they continue to get beat down

The issue is that it comes down to separate, but equal. Obviously this concept was disproven in the US 40+ years ago. Does it have a legal leg to stand on in Israel - I hope not.

Good luck to these women.

L-

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Those religious buses are subsidised by the govt and use govt bus-stops...

Just thought I'd mention that....

[proteus_lives]

6. And Hamas thugs threaten women who ride bicycles.

Just thought I'd mention that.....

[Violet_Crumble]

7. What the fuck does that have to do with what I said?

Nothing.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. Proteus points out that religious conservatives in Israel and Palestine have much in common.

I wonder how the Haredim would respond to being likened to "Hamas thugs." Thanks for the comparison, Proteus.

[LeftishBrit]

10. True, but it doesn't negate these women's cause

Though it's true that religious-right lunatics are pretty much alike whatever the religion, and are all a menace to society.

I wish these women all the best in their fight!

[ProgressiveMuslim]

13. You know the argument is weak when when it rests upon "Well... look at Hamas!" lol.

[Tailormyst]

11. Yes- religious zealots of all types suck.

[JoDog]

9. There have been problems

on buses that are supposed to be non-Orthodox. A friend who visited Israel was ordered to the back of what was supposed to be a secular bus by a hereidi man.

[Tailormyst]

12. I hope she told him to go jump in a lake.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Indeed there have been, but the real violence has been on the hareidi buses

The hareidi are feeling more and more oppressed. Their political power is waning as are their state subsidies. Small outbursts are happening more and more often but not making the news, not unlike your friend. Not saying I agree with it, but I can see why their frustrations are building.

Israel was already quite secular and immigration is outstripping hareidi reproduction. The newer people and young sabras are unwilling to accommodate the hareidi nearly as much as their predecessors did.