Israeli benefit club backtracks after announcing men-only World Cup final event

The Israeli members’ club Haver, which serves career service members, retirees, and their families in the security forces, sparked a public uproar after advertising a mass viewing party for the World Cup final in an amphitheater in Rishon LeZion as a men-only event. The invitation explicitly said that all events were for men only and that women could not register.

The move drew sharp criticism from Gali Zinger, CEO of the Women’s Lobby, who said, “Discrimination is not a game. When Haver prevents a woman from taking part only because of her gender, it is breaking the law. The Women’s Lobby will continue to fight against the exclusion of women, in every place and every framework.”

After Walla contacted the club and presented its findings, Haver held a fresh review and, within hours, reversed course completely. The club announced that the amphitheater event would be open to all members, men and women alike, and that women would also be allowed to register for the final-viewing event.

Haver rejected accusations of discrimination, saying it works year-round for all its members and that this year alone it held more than 30 women-only events for International Women’s Day, attended by tens of thousands of women. The club said those activities, including vacations, pampering days, and content events in Israel and abroad, are part of a tradition that has continued for about 20 years. It said the men’s event was planned after many member requests, but that it reconsidered the format in light of public sentiment and opened it to members and their families.