The news is reporting that UTJ has demanded from Netanyahu as part of the coalition negotiations that a law will be passed that will allow gender-segregated events in Haredi areas (I dont know the exact wording). The justification is that there are many cultural events that Haredi women will not attend if they are mixed (ie the women will stay home from the concert, or whatever, while the men go to what will essentially be a mens only event).
Personally I think that is reasonable and decent. It might have to be worked out exactly when it can happen and when it can't - can the kupat cholim also be segregated? buses? or just concerts? If that is their cultural behavior and what they want, I think the State has to figure out how to provide the needs of each type of community according to their cultures.
The thing is, with everyone on that side of the coin now saying this is what tens of thousands of religious and Haredi women want, this is what tens of thousands of religious people want and we can't force our lifestyle on them, what about the other way - doesn't the fact that tens of thousands of people want, for example, public transportation on Shabbos (in their areas) also mean we should give it to them? Why does the State have to supply the needs of only some of the people and not the needs of all of the people? Each one would be supplying the needs/wants of many people against what many other people think is right. How can you justify one by saying that is what the people want while denying the other?
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