Israeli Druze Leader Defends Gender-Separated Meeting Amid Criticism

Israel Zeira, chairman of the Jewish Leadership party, has publicly defended a gender-segregated meeting held by the "Yashar!" party in Daliyat al-Karmel, which sparked controversy after a photo showed men and women sitting separately divided by a white fence. The event, attended by former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and Druze candidate retired General Kamil Abu Roken, focused on the future of the Druze community, security issues, education, and social challenges.

Critics questioned the separation, highlighting an apparent contradiction with the party's equality messages and contrasting it with a previous mixed-gender political event in the same town by the "Brotherhood Alliance" party. Zeira rejected the criticism, arguing that separate seating does not contradict equality and emphasized respecting individuals' freedom to live according to their beliefs and lifestyle choices. He stated, "Who decided there is only one correct way to be a woman in public space?" and stressed that freedom and equality include allowing people to choose how to conduct themselves.

Zeira accused liberal critics of imposing their views on the Druze community, saying, "It turns out the Druze community can die for us but not live as they understand." He called for an end to external interference in how the Druze live, concluding, "Maybe it's time to stop managing other people's way of life."