A conference on "Innovations in Gynecology/Obstetrics and Halacha [Jewish law]" was held in Jerusalem and it covered important developments in medical treatments for women. Obviously there are plenty of women who would be qualified to speak at a conference about gynecology, but they were barred from addressing it because orthodox Jews would have a temper-tantrum if women were allowed to stand up in public and talk about women's medical issues. Because that's icky, or something.
Several Israeli human rights groups have protested the men-only nature of the conference. While it is considered a private rather than a public forum, and therefore not subject to Israeli policies against discrimination, Puah receives considerable funding from the Health Ministry, these complainants point out.
Such complaints are unlikely to make much of an impression, however. The Health Minister, to whom they are addressed, is actually the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, owing to another sop to the Ultra-Orthodox.
The United Torah Judaism party refused to formally join the coalition cabinet since doing so would signal an acceptance of the Zionist state, something its beliefs preclude. So its representative was given the post of Deputy Health Minister, a non-cabinet position. It is this ultra-Orthodox man who really runs the department, while the PM represents it at the cabinet table.
Source: The Globe and Mail
One interesting aspect to this is that Prime Minister Netanyahu recently had to react to the harassment coming from orthodox Jews against women and girls in public spaces. Netanyahu declared that "In liberal, western democracies the public space is open and secure for everyone - men and women alike. There is no place here for any harassment or discrimination."
Here was a situation, though, where Netanyahu had the opportunity to act personally and decisively in defense of the value of liberal, western democracies -- or not act and thereby give in to the bullying of barbaric, authoritarian religion. When it came time to move from rhetoric in a cabinet meeting to action in the real world, which do you think Netanyahu chose? Where do you think Netanyahu's real allegiance lies?
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