Israel on par with Iran and Afghanistan? Not quite, but we see their point
Earlier this month, on Human Rights Day, the CIRI Human Rights Data Project released its findings on the religious freedoms of 195 countries. Sadly, yet not surprisingly, Israel received a "0" in their rankings, finding itself amongst the likes of Iran, Afghanistan and China. To be sure, Israel is very different from those other countries that received this same depressing rank. But Israel falls far behind the expectations of any like democracies with its continued repression of religious freedoms, from women's rights to the right to marry. For Hiddush, the struggle to gain religious freedom and equality is a sacred battle – anchored in our love and commitment to make Israel live up to the vision of its own founding promise and the desire to achieve what the overwhelming majority of Israelis want.
See Ha’aretz’s coverage of the Index »
MKs at the Knesset Pluralism Caucus discussing freedom of marriage.
Photo: Free Israel
Opposition explodes toward growing discrimination against women, and Israeli resistance grows
Some feel that the criticism of acts of religious intolerance is exaggerated and taken out of context. They need only watch the shocking weekend TV report (Hebrew) aired on Channel 2, describing the spitting and obscenities waged against an 8 year old religious girl Na’ama in the town of Beit Shemesh, as she was walking the mere 600 feet from her house to school, because some in the neighborhood felt she was not dressed sufficiently “modestly”. The interview with her Cleveland, OH born mother and the fear struck Na’ama, who is afraid to ever again walk again this short distance to school alone, put the growing religious extremism of this Jerusalem suburb in context, and left the listeners both moved and extremely concerned. This followed a statement made just a few days earlier by the Police Chief Danino, that 'discrimination against women should be seen as a crime', ordering enforcement of zero-tolerance policy for discrimination.
Events reported on over the weekend news bulletins included showing signs placed next to a synagogue (which Hiddush recently exposed), requiring women to cross to the opposite sidewalk and refrain from walking past or standing next to a synagogue. On Sunday PM Netanyahu ordered that all such signs be removed and instructed Internal Security Minister and the Attorney General to exercise a firm hand against women’s exclusion. Further to this, Finance Minister Steinitz stated in a radio interview that “the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) extremists who commit violence against women and girls belong behind bars”, branding them as “psychopaths and villains”.
Sign next to Beit Shemesh synagogue instructing women to cross the street.
Photo: Flash90
A wide and diverse coalition of organizations, including Hiddush, are actively pursuing advocacy and public campaigns aimed at eradicating the growing segregation and marginalization of women on religious grounds. Thousands plan to demonstrate in Beit Shemesh on Tuesday. Hiddush participated in discussions held at the Knesset and was quoted on TV, radio and printed/online media. A noteworthy low point in the rhetoric was seen in an article written by one of Yated Ne’eman’s editors (the Ashkenazi ultra-orthodox daily paper), who attempted to justify the segregation by alluding to the fact that even the Nazis viewed it as a natural practice when they separated men from women in the death camps. Hiddush strongly reacted to suggesting this abominable Nazi practice be a model to emulate.
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