Ultra-Orthodox Bnei Brak forced to allow campaign posters of women
Ruling by Central Elections Committee comes after multiple complaints from women's rights activists and left-wing MK.
By ZACK EVANSMeretz Party Leader Tamar Zandberg holding a sign saying #YouWillNotEraseMe as a protest of her face being removed from Bnei Brak billboards, 2019.(photo credit: MERETZ)
Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Hanan Melzer ruled on Wednesday that the city of Bnei Brak cannot ban campaign posters that depict women, according to a statement.Bnei Brak is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish city on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Some circles in the ultra-Orthodox community take issue with depictions of women in public spaces, citing concerns about modesty."This decision was released on the eve of Purim, and it goes without saying in this context that the holiday emphasizes the role and importance of women, and the need to respect them and to preserve their position," said Judge Melcer.The decision came after the Israel Women's Network and Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg brought a motion against the Bnei Brak Municipality to order the city to allow depictions of women in campaign material.In his decision Melcer also awarded NIS 7,500 each to the Israel Women's Network and Zandberg, to be paid by the city.Zandberg was incensed earlier this year when a campaign billboard with her picture intended to be placed at the Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan border was not put up.Tamar Beeri contributed to this report.
