A bill sponsored by MK Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit that would significantly expand the legal framework for gender-separate academic programs in Israel was approved in the Knesset Education Committee on Monday in its second and third readings.

The bill, entitled the “Law to Prevent Progressive Coercion in Academia,” will allow institutions of higher education to offer separate programs for men and women in master’s and doctoral programs and not only undergraduate studies. It would also permit such programs to serve populations beyond the Chareidi community and formally recognize separate academic institutions.

The legislation would effectively overturn a previous High Court ruling that barred gender-separated programs for advanced degrees, restoring authority over the issue to the Knesset and to the governing bodies of academic institutions.

Following the bill’s approval, Son Har-Melech said, “Today we took a significant step toward correcting an injustice that has continued for years. The High Court imposed a radical progressive worldview on the public and deprived thousands of women and men of the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees without abandoning their faith and way of life. This law restores freedom of choice to academia and restores liberty to the public.”

“A true liberal who believes in pluralism should also respect those who choose to study in separate programs. Anyone who speaks in the name of human rights cannot deny an entire public the right to study in accordance with its beliefs. In a Jewish and democratic state, there is no place for progressive coercion. Academia should be open to everyone, including those who wish to preserve their way of life. This is an important correction of an injustice and another step toward an academic system that truly respects every segment of Israeli society.”

Education Committee chairman MK Zvi Sukkot said: “Contrary to the false campaign against this bill, it does not force separation on anyone—it expands freedom of choice,” he said. “In a Jewish and democratic state, there is no reason someone who wishes to study in a framework consistent with his or her way of life should have to forgo advanced education. Those who speak in the name of pluralism should also respect the religious and Chareidi public and allow them an equal opportunity to advance academically. Under my leadership, the Education Committee will continue working to remove barriers and enable every Israeli citizen to pursue higher education in accordance with his or her beliefs and personal choices.”

Sukkot continued, saying, “Today, the opposition showed its hypocrisy. Israel has gender-segregated events all the time, and there are separate schools and separate cultural events. Telling such a large segment of Israeli society, ‘We know better than you,’ is arrogance. That is secular coercion—a fundamentalist ideology that is taking over the State of Israel. You are trying to impose your way of life on us, and with all due respect, that is the exact opposite of rights and freedom.”

Yisrael Beitenu chairman Avigdor Liberman slammed the bill, claiming that it is “another step by the draft-dodging coalition in its attempt to turn Israel into an ayatollah state,” and called on heads of academic institutions not to comply with the legislation.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)