Knesset Approves Law Allowing Separate Academic Tracks for Religious Students

The Knesset approved in a second and third reading a bill proposed by Deputy Speaker Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit, enabling higher education institutions to open separate study tracks for graduate degrees based on demand and discretion. This law overturns a previous Supreme Court ruling that prohibited separate tracks for master's and doctoral programs, returning the decision-making power to legislators and academic institutions.

Son Har-Melech described the legislation as a long-overdue correction that will allow thousands of religious and ultra-Orthodox men and women to pursue advanced studies without compromising their lifestyle. This, she said, opens new professional opportunities, including government tenders and leadership roles. She emphasized that the law does not mandate separate tracks but permits them if requested, and that separation applies only within classrooms, not in libraries, cafeterias, or other campus areas.

Addressing criticisms that the law could harm women or promote gender segregation, Son Har-Melech stated the bill was crafted by women for women and does not require any institution or student to participate in separate tracks. She highlighted that existing institutions with separation policies, such as seminaries, will maintain their current practices.

Son Har-Melech explained her motivation stemmed from witnessing the barriers faced by religious students who could not study in frameworks compatible with their beliefs, limiting their career advancement and earning potential. She framed the debate as a broader issue of whether Israeli society accommodates diverse lifestyles, accusing opponents of abandoning pluralistic values when religious groups seek tailored educational options.

In her speech, she referenced the biblical daughters of Zelophehad as symbols of women demanding justice and opportunity without sacrificing identity. Despite challenges, including public campaigns against the bill, she credited coalition members and advocacy groups for their support. She concluded by assuring the religious public that from now on, no one must choose between their faith and future, as the Knesset has opened academic doors to those wishing to maintain their way of life.