Israel – Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) said today that Israel would allow the ultra-Orthodox community continue to run their private bus lines segregated by gender, but could not officially recognize the practice on public bus lines.
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The minister was responding to a petition sent by the Israel Religious Action Center and a women’s rights group to the government and to the Egged and Dan transportation companies.
Katz declared in his response that Israel does not disapprove of buses which separate between men and women to accommodate the Hardi community, but that segregation could not become institutionalized.
The minister added that buses should be permitted to hang signs explaining the ultra-Orthodox community’s request to separate seating between men and women, however the request could not be enforced if passengers chose not to adhere to it.
Kats also said that violence and the disruption of order on segregated buses must be stopped, and instructed professional security forces on the matter.
Currently, there are 56 segregated bus lines operating throughout the country, a total of 2,108 buses a day. All the buses will be permitted to remain segregated so long as they choose to, but passengers will not be forced to adhere to the decision, only to respect it at will.
Most of the buses cater to ultra-Orthodox passengers.
“The minister expressed a worthy attitude towards the ultra-Orthodox community and he understands the publics’ needs,” Rabbi Shimon Stern of the Rabbis Transportation Committee said in praise of the decision.
Segregated buses are a relatively new phenomenon in Israel, with the first one appearing 10 years ago on a line between Jerusalem and neighboring Beit Shemesh.
Who even enjoys those chareidi buses? people look at you and investigate every stupid thing you do etc etc
I have a better idea…why not just allow private bus operations and end the monopoly by egged/dan? Then whoever wants a mixed bus can have theirs, whoever wants a mechitza bus can have theirs?
Then let’s also say that smoking is not allowed on buses but we will not stand for passengers trying enforcing this law. If a person wishes to smoke, he may do so whenever he chooses.
I AGREE with the minister, people have a right to have their own buses for whatever they choose, but on public buses there should’nt be Segregation.
is it really neccessary to have seperate sections on a bus? it seems like going over board on what needs to be done and what doesnt need to be done
Why not pass a new law : only ,people , gainfully employed may board a bus.
Let chareidim have their own private buses.
no separate buses, walk instead it might do them so good
The Israeli government is implementing a critical new urban planning policy, by building cheap ghetto type tenements in the Negev for Haredim. I think this is the smartest long term planning that Israel is doing. Move them into the desert, outside the limelight of bustling Israeli cities and communities, so they won’t be like a sore on the Jewish culture. Let them implement their draconian traditions and “chalachas” in the desert, out of everyone’s sight.
To compare banning smoking on buses to barring women to the back of the bus is like comparing the forcing of Jews to wearing yellow stars to the forcing of motor cyclists to wear crash helmets. Absolutely ridiculous
What the Minister is proposing is a recipe for lawlessness, chaos and violence.
There should be official, Mehadrin buses — if need be, private. The rule is if you get on the bus, you follow the rules of the bus. Or else take a different bus.
(Best way to enforce it is stop the bus and make the person get off.)
Reply to #24 . Where is your sense of humor.