Israeli Universities Warn Gender Segregation Bill Threatens Academic Quality and Public Health

All Israeli universities and the nine deans of medical schools have issued a joint warning against a new bill advancing expanded gender segregation in higher education institutions. The bill, expected to pass its second and third readings this week, would allow gender separation not only in classrooms but also in public spaces such as cafeterias, libraries, and laboratories. This represents a significant expansion from the current model, which permits segregation only in separate campuses or first-degree programs for ultra-Orthodox students, aiming to integrate them into academia and the workforce.

University leaders cautioned in a letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice that the legislation threatens academic independence and the quality of education and research. They emphasized that "a strong state does not weaken its engines of growth" and described Israeli science as a national asset that should not be subjected to political disputes. Ben-Gurion University held an emergency discussion on the matter, and Bar-Ilan University sent a letter to Knesset Education Committee members warning that the bill could harm women and is not in the public interest.

The deans of all Israeli medical schools issued a particularly stark warning, stating that applying gender segregation to medical and health professions education would severely damage the quality of medical care and endanger public health. They posed a rhetorical question: "If a family member needs surgery, would you want the best professional or a surgeon of the 'correct' gender?" They called the bill a direct threat to Israeli citizens' health.

The bill overturns a previous Supreme Court ruling that prohibited gender-segregated studies in advanced degree programs. The Knesset Education Committee approved the bill for further readings amid heated debate, with opponents shouting "shame" at coalition members. The legislation's passage would mark a dramatic shift in Israeli academia, expanding gender segregation into public academic spaces and advanced studies, raising concerns about its broader social and professional impacts.