Israeli Knesset Education Committee Debates Gender-Segregated Academic Tracks Amid Controversy

The Knesset Education Committee is set to vote on Monday for the second and third readings of a bill proposed by MK Limor Son Har-Melech. The bill aims to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that banned gender-segregated study tracks for master's and doctoral degrees. If passed, the legislation would allow the Council for Higher Education to approve separate study tracks for students who request them.

During the committee session, legal advisor Tami Sela noted that while the bill does not mandate the establishment of separate tracks, it opens the door for gender segregation in academic classrooms. She clarified that the decision would ultimately rest with the Council for Higher Education. Sela also sought clarification on whether the Finance Ministry had issued a written opinion on the bill's budgetary impact, stating that correspondence from the ministry indicated no expected financial difference.

Knesset members demanded that a Finance Ministry representative be allowed to present the ministry's official stance during the discussion. Although a ministry representative attended, they were not granted permission to speak. The session grew heated, with MK Naama Lazimi being removed from the committee and committee chairman Tzvi Sukkot proceeding with votes amid protests from members who claimed the votes were invalid.