Israel Land Authority Faces Legal Action Over Banned Women's Performances
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
The State Employees Union has filed a second lawsuit against Yehuda Eliyahu, acting director general of the Israel Land Authority, for canceling welfare events that included women's singing. The union seeks to reinstate a "Worker's Day" event and an Eilat study tour, accusing Eliyahu of deliberate procrastination after previous agreements were not met. Meanwhile, MK Meirav Cohen is calling for a review of Eliyahu's suitability for his role, citing concerns that his actions based on religious grounds may violate equality and women's rights.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- State Employees Union sues Israel Land Authority's acting director general over canceled women's performances.
- The union seeks reinstatement of a "Worker's Day" event and an Eilat study tour.
- The union accuses the acting director general of deliberate procrastination and bad faith.
- MK Meirav Cohen calls for a review of the acting director general's suitability for his position.
- Concerns are raised about potential violations of equality and women's rights due to religious objections.
The State Employees Union has filed a second lawsuit within two months against the acting director general of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), Yehuda Eliyahu, demanding he reinstate canceled welfare events that included women's singing. The latest action concerns a "Worker's Day" event planned before Rosh Hashanah, which Eliyahu vetoed because it featured a musical with songs by Shlomi Shabat, including women singing and dancing on stage. The union also seeks to hold a study tour in Eilat this year, which Eliyahu has also sought to review.
This marks the second time the union has approached the Labor Court on this issue. Following a previous filing on August 25, Eliyahu had agreed to reinstate the events, including the original "Worker's Day" performance with women's singing and the Eilat tour, as per agreements reached with the ILA workers' committee and union chairman. However, the union claims Eliyahu failed to uphold these commitments, not convening tender committees or setting dates.
Despite a letter from the union chairman two weeks ago and a tender committee meeting on October 7, the union asserts "no positive outcome emerged regarding the holding of the postponed welfare events." They accuse the ILA management, or at least the acting director general, of "deliberate procrastination."
The union is asking the Labor Court to order the events and the tour to be held this year, as per ILA's traditional practices. This urgency stems from state service rules, where unused budgets revert to the Treasury at year-end. They also request the court to rule that Eliyahu acted disproportionately, unlawfully, and in bad faith, and to issue a permanent injunction against unilateral changes to the workplace's character without consultation.
Concurrently, MK Meirav Cohen, chairwoman of the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women, is calling for a review of Eliyahu's tenure as acting director general. Eliyahu was appointed on July 16, after his permanent appointment was disqualified by the High Court. His temporary term was initially for three months, but due to election regulations preventing new selection committees, the High Court allowed an extension on October 15. Minister of Construction and Housing Haim Katz extended his term until January 22.
In a letter to Katz, Civil Service Commissioner Doron Cohen, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Cohen urged a review of Eliyahu's suitability to lead a government authority, citing serious allegations regarding his use of power to prevent women's participation in events based on religious grounds. She stated that such actions could harm equality, women's dignity, and their ability to participate equally in public life, potentially subordinating a government authority's operations to specific religious norms.