Avigdor Lieberman Condemns Gender Segregation Bill in Israeli Academia as Step Toward Theocracy

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, sharply criticized a bill advancing in the Knesset that would allow higher education institutions in Israel to offer separate advanced degree tracks for men and women. The bill, proposed by MK Limor Son Har-Melech, aims to expand gender segregation in academia and is scheduled for further discussion and preparation for second and third readings in the Knesset's Education Committee. Lieberman described the legislation as "another step by the coalition of evasion to turn the State of Israel into a state of ayatollahs," urging university leaders and academic institutions not to cooperate with the initiative. The bill had previously passed its first reading over a year ago, with 48 Knesset members supporting it and 40 opposing. If approved, it would formally permit gender-segregated study tracks at the graduate level in Israeli universities.