Rabbis introduce gender-segregated streets in Israeli city

The municipality of Bnei Brak has begun dividing sidewalks into male and female zones in accordance with an order from the city's rabbis. This is reported by the Times of Israel.

The gender segregation regime has been introduced on the central streets of Shlomo Ha-Melech and Ezra. The municipal authorities have issued an order requiring residents of all ages to comply with the new pedestrian traffic rules. Special barriers and signs are being installed in the busiest parts of the city to prevent men and women from accidentally crossing paths.

The Bnei Brak administration emphasized that the local community, faithful to its spiritual leaders, will unconditionally carry out their will. The project is planned to be extended to other districts of the city in the future.

Activists from women's rights organizations have sharply criticized the new measure. In their view, religious leaders are seeking to completely exclude women from public life. Opponents of segregation pointed out that the decision was made exclusively by men and ignores the interests of half of the city's population.

The Supreme Court has previously banned such practices, ruling in 2017 to remove "modesty signs" in Beit Shemesh. However, in Bnei Brak, which has a population of approximately 231,000, the vast majority of residents belong to ultra-Orthodox communities.

As the SPJ reported, ultra-Orthodox Jews blocked traffic in Israel over the arrest of draft evaders.

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