Women excluded from Knesset Choir

We at Meretz USA were mortified to discover that the female members of the Knesset Choir were excluded from singing Hatikva at a ceremonial Knesset session to hear UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown – so as not to offend ultra-Orthodox members. The Haaretz headline reads: “Fearing Haredi ire, Knesset choir excludes women singers at Brown session.” Curiously, this decision was made by a woman, Dalia Itzik, the current Speaker of the Knesset.

This story is updated, with news of a protest, in a recent (Aug. 3) Ynet article. As progressive Zionists, we oppose the unequal treatment of women, reminiscent of the theocracies in Iran or Saudi Arabia.