Friday Jun 13, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News

Environmental protection minister seeks to weed out plan for gender segregation in nature reserves

"Gender segregation is a form of exclusion and constitutes a material violation of equality," Minister Tamar Zandberg says. United Torah Judaism labels her opposition to the move "dark and primitive."

by  Dan Lavie
Published on  06-22-2021 10:28
Last modified: 07-25-2021 08:56
Environmental protection minister seeks to weed out plan for gender segregation in nature reserves

Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg (Oren Ben Hakoon)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg announced Sunday that it plans to oppose a motion by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to effectively instate gender-segregated swimming at nature reserves.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter 

Last year, the Justice Ministry instructed the INPA to suspend a pilot program to that effect, but the Nature and Parks Authority's legal counsel insisted that implementing the move – lobbied for by the Jewish rights group Bezalmo, which claimed not doing so precluded observant Israelis from visiting many nature sites – would not, in fact, infringe on the principle of equality.

The Attorney General's Office ruled that the INPA did not have the authority to make such a decision independently.

Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber said at the time that the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which is a state agency, has no right to implement separate-sex swimming at its nature reserves unless the issue was regulated by law.

"Gender segregation is a form of exclusion and constitutes a material violation of equality," Zandberg said. "The American court ruled as early as the 1950s that 'segregation' means 'not equal.'  Israeli reality in recent years is rife with segregation – in public transportation, higher education, and events. There is no room to further expand segregation in the public sphere."

She stressed that "as the attorney general has ruled that [the INPA] has no authority on the issue, I will adamantly oppose any attempt to pass legislation on this issue, aimed at normalizing exclusion in the public sphere."

United Torah Judaism leader Moshe Gafni called Zandberg's order barring the Nature and Parks Authority from instating gender-segregated swimming in two locations "dark and primitive."

The minister's order, he said, "Offends men and women, Jews and Arabs alike. According to this decision, anyone whose lifestyle differs from that of the new minister cannot enjoy the bathing sites at INPA parks, even for a little bit,"

Betzalmo CEO Shai Glick vowed to "spare no effort to overturn this decision" and reiterated that as the plan for gender-segregated swimming would only affect a handful of sites, "it would not infringe on anyone's rights."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Related Posts

Israel strikes Iran; air raid sirens sound nationwideSocial media

Israel strikes Iran; air raid sirens sound nationwide

by ILH Staff

Dozens of locations targeted successfully, IDF announces, as reports emerge from Tehran of explosion. Defense minister declares state of emergency...

Israel moves to seize Thunberg's Gaza flotillaIsraeli Foreign Ministry

Israel moves to seize Thunberg's Gaza flotilla

by Itsik Saban

Israeli authorities filed a formal confiscation request targeting the "Madleen" that was intercepted Sunday during an attempted violation of the...

Israeli security forces on high alert amid concerns of Hamas attacks from GazaEyad Baba/AFP

Captured papers expose international Gaza aid went directly to Hamas

by Shachar Kleiman

According to The Wall Street Journal, internal Hamas documents show the terror organization directed up to 25% of humanitarian aid...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il