Women's Rights, and Wrongs, in Israel
Although women are the victims of discrimination the world over, it is particularly troubling when we see evidence of anachronistic gender-based inequity and abuse in a democratic state. There have been several disturbing reports of violations of women's rights in Israel in the last week:
- Last Wednesday, a woman was arrested at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for "acting provocatively and in a way which upset the public order." In simpler terms, she wore a tallit, a prayer shawl, and read from a sefer Torah. Nofrat Frenkel was arrested by Jerusalem police for publicly expressing her religion.
- Yesterday, a new study revealed that Arab Israeli women are employed at a rate 30% lower than Jewish Israeli women. Fewer Arab women are employed in the state of Israel than in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This troubling fact underscores the urgent need for the Israeli government to "reduce the gaps between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel."
- Most alarming of all, a staggering 79% of single Israeli women are harassed in the workplace. Only 3% ever file complaints. This disparity is nearly as shocking as the statistics themselves.
If you'd like to know more, contact Legislative Assistants Liz Piper-Goldberg (Israel) or Samuel Lehman (Women's Issues).