The Israeli Government is reportedly defying a court ruling by funding a sex-segregated Public Service training course for ultra-Orthodox applicants.
The course, which is to open in December, is run by a private organisation but receives State funding.
The course’s operator is apparently trying to downplay the gender separation, which isn’t mentioned in its advertisements or registration forms.
However, it has been confirmed that men and women are to learn in separate groups at different hours.
In a statement, the Israel Women’s Network said the course violated a Labour Court’s order that the Government must make it clear in advance if a course is sex-segregated.
“The course undermines equality between the sexes and violates various court rulings requiring gender segregation to be reduced to a minimum,” the Network said.
Minister for Social Equality, Merav Cohen, whose Ministry is one of the course’s sponsors, promised to reconsider the project together with women’s organisations and produce “a more balanced policy”.
The course, Basics of Public Administration, is meant to prepare ultra-Orthodox men and women for jobs in either the national Government or Local Councils.
So far 120 people have applied, of whom 20 men and 20 women are to be accepted.
Chief Executive of Ma’aseh and course organiser, Yossi Malka said the decision to provide training “adapted to the ultra-Orthodox community” stemmed from the desire “to integrate population groups that aren’t represented in the Civil Service”.
“It’s clear to us that the ultra-Orthodox won’t register for a course that includes both men and women,” Mr Malka said.
“It simply won’t work,” he said.
However, Mr Malka admitted other similar courses had been operating for three years that included ultra-Orthodox people who did not have a problem mixing men and women, including non-Jews.
The Civil Service Commission said its only involvement in the course is “providing professional material to familiarise [participants] with Government Ministries”.
The Ministry of the Interior said it merely acceded to the Ministry for Social Equality’s request for material relating to Local Governments and was told the course complied with court rulings.
Jerusalem, 6 September 2021
