Against the backdrop of an "Equality and Democracy" sign: gender segregation at a "Yashar!" party gathering
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and "Yashar!" party candidate Major General (res.) Kamil Abu Rukun held an event in Daliyat al-Karmel where men and women were separated by a barrier. The incident sparked intense criticism on social media, especially as a concurrent event by the Druze "Brit Achim" party in the same town featured no such segregation. The "Yashar!" party declined to comment.
A home gathering held by the "Yashar!" party in Daliyat al-Karmel, featuring former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and Druze candidate Major General (res.) Kamil Abu Rukun, sought to address the future of the Druze society, security, and social challenges. However, a photograph from the event sparked significant criticism: women and men were seated on opposite sides, separated by a white fence.
While the meeting focused on security and the influence of the Druze community on Israel's future, the seating arrangement drew attention for reasons unrelated to the discussion. The segregation sparked backlash online, particularly because the "Yashar!" party presents itself as a champion of equality for all Israeli citizens.
The controversy was amplified by the fact that a concurrent political conference of the Druze party "Brit Achim," led by Colonel (res.) Wajdi Sarhan, was held in the same town without any gender segregation, with participants sitting together in a shared space.
"It is outrageous to see parties that hold the banner of equality and democracy bending to social norms that have passed from the world under the guise of cultural adaptation," said Shahrazad Hasson, a jurist and activist from Daliyat al-Karmel. "We, the Druze women who have succeeded in every arena except the political one, need these parties to open the door for us and speak to us directly, rather than setting aside the banner of gender equality when they visit our districts."
The lively discourse on social media highlights a broader question regarding the role of women in the public and political sphere. We contacted the "Yashar!" party for a response, but it was not provided by the time of publication.
