Ayelet Shaked on segregation: Haredi women also deserve to enjoy cultural events • Watch

November 20, 2022   

The 36th government led by Yair Lapid convened today (Sunday) for a final summary meeting, ahead of the formation of the new one headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Outgoing Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told reporters before entering the cabinet room: "I want to wish the new government success and also tell some of the media and the public that there is nothing to panic about, neither the escalation clause nor the separation of women and men at events. In the end, the escalation clause creates a slightly different dialogue between the Knesset and the court. We have been trying to pass it for many, many years - and I hope they succeed." Shaked supports the demand of Smotrich and the Haredi parties to stipulate in legislation that gender segregation will not be considered discrimination: "Regarding the segregation issues - these are events that exist today, separation between men and women, Haredi women also deserve to enjoy cultural events. These events still take place today, there was simply intervention by certain attorneys over the years, and we took care of stopping the intervention, I also took care of it as Minister of Justice, there is no need to panic." Asked about the government's work in the past year, Ayelet Shaked said: "I am here with my director general, I think we did a great job at the Ministry of the Interior, lots and lots of reforms, reforms that citizens benefit from, we did the best that could be." Asked where to continue now - she replied: "I don't understand why there is no debate about the Ministry of the Interior, it is the most amazing ministry there is.".