Bnei Brak to Introduce Gender Segregation on Streets, Defying Supreme Court
The ultra-Orthodox Israeli city of Bnei Brak plans to implement gender segregation on two main streets, ignoring a 2017 Supreme Court ban.
Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish city east of Tel Aviv, is set to become the first in Israel to officially enforce gender segregation on public streets. Following a rabbinical decision, barriers and signs will be installed on Shlomo Hamelekh and Ezra streets, forcing men and women to walk on opposite sides. This defies a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed such segregation.
Municipal officials stated the plan has been in development for years and is likely to be extended to other streets. A formal statement called on residents to comply, saying the rabbis' instructions are "very clear." However, Yael Yehieli, director of the gender equality initiative "5050," condemned the move, warning that religious leaders seek to exclude women from public spaces and that the "segregation monster is insatiable."
The decision is part of a broader trend of ultra-Orthodox activism in Israel. In Tiberias, they demanded beach segregation, and in Safed, they pushed for a halt to public transport on Shabbat. Meanwhile, the Knesset recently passed a law banning the arrest of ultra-Orthodox individuals who evade military conscription, sparking outrage among the public and military officials.
