Bnei Brak set to become Israel's first city with gender-segregated streets, municipality announces

Bnei Brak is poised to become Israel's first city to implement gender-segregated streets, following a decision by the municipality to designate sections of Shlomo Hamelech and Ezra streets as segregated. The move, reported Tuesday, specifically targets areas near event halls.

The municipality stated that the decision was prompted by a letter from the city's rabbis, who called for segregation in the vicinity of large gatherings. The municipality indicated that the rule could be expanded to affect other streets in the future. In their statement, the municipality asserted that "the letter from the city's rabbis is very clear and speaks for itself," adding that the city's residents "will fulfill their request."

This development occurs amidst a backdrop of increasing demands from Haredi citizens for municipal regulations that align with the ultra-Orthodox lifestyle. Similar tensions have surfaced in other cities, including Tiberias, where Haredi residents protested against a beach they wished to be segregated, and Safed, where protests erupted over public transportation operating during Shabbat.

In the political arena, the Knesset recently passed a controversial bill suspending arrests of Haredi draft dodgers. This vote, ending 58 to 54, occurred despite severe legal warnings about the bill's imbalance and outcry from bereaved families and IDF veterans, particularly given the IDF's significant manpower shortage. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had previously warned unequivocally against the bill, citing potential national security problems. Deans of Israeli medical schools also published a letter warning of dangers posed by a proposed Gender Segregation Bill in Higher Education.

“

The public in the city, who trust in obedience to the great men of Israel and listen to their words, will fulfill their request.