Israeli Parliament Advances Gender Segregation Law for University Studies Beyond Bachelor's Degrees

The Knesset Education Committee approved the second and third readings of a bill proposed by MK Limor Son Har-Melech from Otzma Yehudit, aiming to permit gender-segregated studies in advanced university degrees. The legislation seeks to bypass a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that allowed gender segregation only in undergraduate programs upon student request, citing the need to accommodate ultra-Orthodox women’s access to education despite gender equality concerns. The bill does not mandate segregation for all institutions but allows it where students express interest, with no additional budgetary cost to the state.

Opposition lawmakers strongly criticized the bill, accusing it of excluding women and deepening gender divides in academia and public spaces. During committee votes, opposition MKs staged a protest by placing "Men" and "Women" signs on opposite sides of the chamber, sarcastically calling for segregation in all Knesset committees. Critics warn the law could undermine gender equality, academic quality, and faculty employment conditions. Academic representatives, including Professor Michal Frenkel, argued that segregated studies are academically inferior.

MK Yosef Tayeb from Shas proposed expanding the bill to allow segregation in all areas of separate academic institutions, a move opposed by the Justice Ministry and the Council for Higher Education (CHE), which stressed it contradicts existing policies and Supreme Court rulings. CHE representatives highlighted that no fully separate institutions currently exist, only separate campuses within mixed institutions, and questioned whether the law would require segregation in public campus spaces like libraries and cafeterias.

Supporters, including ultra-Orthodox participants and government officials like Roy Asaf from the Prime Minister’s Office, argued the law promotes inclusion and economic advancement for ultra-Orthodox women. The bill’s explanatory notes emphasize it is not intended to discriminate and does not override employment equality laws.

University presidents warned in a letter to the Knesset that expanding gender segregation could create "second-class degrees for women," impose significant budgetary burdens, and severely harm research quality and professional training in Israel’s therapeutic fields. They called for a special discussion to address last-minute attempts to broaden segregation to first degrees and public campus areas.

Summary: The Israeli Knesset committee advanced a bill allowing gender-segregated studies in advanced university degrees, challenging a Supreme Court ruling limiting segregation to undergraduate programs. The bill faces strong opposition over concerns of gender discrimination and academic harm, while supporters argue it promotes ultra-Orthodox women's inclusion and economic opportunities.