Gender Segregation in Israel & Rise of Haredim

The Israeli Transport Ministry has convened a committee on the question of gender segregation on public Israeli buses.

Israel's conservative - and somewhat anti-Zionist - Haredi community abides by strict segregation of sexes. Haredi Jews are Ultra-Orthodox and believe its un-something for non-related sexes to mix on buses.

The have lobbied the government to establish segregation of some form on buses: either single-sex buses or buses divided between a male front and a female back.

Israeli women's groups are outraged and have sent an opposition petition to the Israeli High Court to preempt any government in favor of segregation. Many prominent Israelis have also voiced opposition.

But the Haredi is a growing one in Israel whose birthrate out places that of secular Jews. In a few years, 1-in-3 Jews school children will be Haredi. The community is well-organized and an important vote for the current far-ring government. The Netanyahu government does not want to alienate its base and end up losing votes the next time around while not gaining anything, except gratitude, from secularists and feminists who are opposed to the segregation and tend not to vote Likud.

This is a battle that is more than about the question of sexes on buses, but a reflection of Israel's very own culture wars. The nation was born a secular Jewish state though one where the Rabbinical was given great power. But most of the community was secular and questions of religion weren't very prominent. But pious Jews have grown into a strong political movement. This debate is about the future of Israel. A war between secularists and coreligionists

A question as to what country Israel will be: a secular, liberal democracy (for its Jewish citizens; of course the Arabs do not even factor for Israelis) or a Jewish religious state.

Secularists currently look like they are losing. Not only are Haredi Jews reproducing more but now they are moving into secular Tel Aviv known as "The Bubble":

With birthrates nearly two or three times the national average, Israel's ultra-Orthodox community is expected to grow from 16% of the population to 23% by 2025, according to figures from the American-Israel Demographic Research Group.

But in Ramat Aviv, one of the more expensive parts of Tel Aviv, some residents say the arrival of the Haredim isn't about expanding populations in search of affordable housing, but is rooted in a political and religious agenda not unlike that of Jewish settlers moving to the West Bank.

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"They're not coming here just to live," said David Shulman, who is helping to lead a neighborhood group opposed to the Haredi expansion. "They are here to take over the neighborhood."

He said Ramat Aviv was targeted because it is known as a bastion of secularism. "If they can conquer Ramat Aviv, it would be like a jewel in the crown," he said.

The very same Tel Aviv residents who are indifferent or supportive of fellow Israelis who settle illegally on Palestinian land cry foul when less distasteful medicine is given to them. Ya! I say. Karma.

I am cheering for the Haredi Jews because they are anti-Zionist and support one state solution. At best, they are ambiguous toward Zionist.

Go Haredim!