One of the concerns arising from the proposed “judicial reform” is the potential harm to women's status as a result of a weakened Court. The Court is the main guarantor of women's rights in the country, as seen in the decision to obligate the air force to open a pilots’ course for women; in preventing the denial of women’s property rights from women accused of infidelity (while a husband who acts the same way is not punished); and the ban on separating women from men in a cemetery. And these are just a few examples of many. Without an effective Court that does not hesitate to intervene in government decisions as well as in discriminatory legislation, women have no way to realize their right to equality.
This was also the case in the past, and today, with the coalition consisting of two parties that negate women's integration within them, a party calling for women to return to their proper place of childbearing and cooking, and a central party whose few women includes anti-feminists – the fear is increasing and the threat is palpable. The appalling minority of women appointed by the government to senior positions illustrates the lack of women's representation. Experience shows that when there are no women in decision making centers, no one really is mindful of women's rights and their status.
And why does it matter? First of all, part of the democratic essence of the state is ensuring equality without discrimination on sex and gender. Beyond that, women are a huge potential of knowledge, ability, and motivation, and in order for the state to flourish, it is important to integrate them in all areas of action, including in the public, security, and business fields. Women's status reflects the advance of a state, and there is a correlation between the standard of living in the countries of the world and the level of equality for women.
If women are pushed out and feel they are second class citizens, and that they have no one to turn to ensure their rights because the court is in the government's pocket, then many will leave - the educated, the leading, the creative – and their families will leave with them. This harms a central resource of the State of Israel: its quality citizens. Does anyone really think this is good for the country?
One of the concerns arising from the proposed “judicial reform” is the potential harm to women's status as a result of a weakened Court. The Court is the main guarantor of women's rights in the country, as seen in the decision to obligate the air force to open a pilots’ course for women; in preventing the denial of women’s property rights from women accused of infidelity (while a husband who acts the same way is not punished); and the ban on separating women from men in a cemetery. And these are just a few examples of many. Without an effective Court that does not hesitate to intervene in government decisions as well as in discriminatory legislation, women have no way to realize their right to equality.
This was also the case in the past, and today, with the coalition consisting of two parties that negate women's integration within them, a party calling for women to return to their proper place of childbearing and cooking, and a central party whose few women includes anti-feminists – the fear is increasing and the threat is palpable. The appalling minority of women appointed by the government to senior positions illustrates the lack of women's representation. Experience shows that when there are no women in decision making centers, no one really is mindful of women's rights and their status.
And why does it matter? First of all, part of the democratic essence of the state is ensuring equality without discrimination on sex and gender. Beyond that, women are a huge potential of knowledge, ability, and motivation, and in order for the state to flourish, it is important to integrate them in all areas of action, including in the public, security, and business fields. Women's status reflects the advance of a state, and there is a correlation between the standard of living in the countries of the world and the level of equality for women.
If women are pushed out and feel they are second class citizens, and that they have no one to turn to ensure their rights because the court is in the government's pocket, then many will leave - the educated, the leading, the creative – and their families will leave with them. This harms a central resource of the State of Israel: its quality citizens. Does anyone really think this is good for the country?