The court today ruled that the City of Afula cannot hold its event for Haredim in the municipal park with municipal funding while holding it gender-segregated. The event must be open to all equally in all parts of the area. There cannot be signs directing any gender to a specific area, and ushers cannot direct people either. People can stand where they want on their own, but there can be no directions to do so. Police will be present, if the City plans to continue holding the event, to ensure that this is adhered to.
Obviously the reactions form the Haredi politicians to this decision have been harsh.
The only thing I don't understand is in what way is this different than the Chabad event last summer in Kikar Rabin in tel Aviv that was planned with a mechitza. The City of Tel Aviv approved it, and then when appealed, the city abcked down. It went to court and the Court upheld their right to hold the event with the mechitza, though they were told to have an area as well with no mechitza where people who were not interested in separate seating could be. Then the court even criticized City Hall for approving the event and then backing down after money was spent on planning and logistics.
So why in Tel Aviv did the Court allow the Chabad gender-separate event, but in Afula the Court forbids it? Can we please get one set of rules?
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