Law promoting female politicians passes

The Knesset yesterday passed, and furthered, some interesting law proposals that have been in the works.

One of the laws passed its final votes is the law proposed by MKs Yifat Kariv and Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid) Dov Chenin (Chadash) and Hanin Zoabi (Balad) by which municipal parties running campaigns will receive funding at a level commensurate with the number of women included in the party list. A party with at least one third of the list made up of women will receive a bonus of an additional 15% funding.

Its not just women on the party list, but women in realistic slots - actually, women who actually sit on city council. The funding would only be granted about 8 months after the elections, when the Comptroller submits his report. At that time, the funding will be given based on how many women are serving in office.

The main opposition to this bill was from the MKs of Haredi parties. MK Gafni (UTJ) said that until today women included in party lists were there due to their abilities and talents, but now they will be on the lists just because they are women and the party head wants to qualify for funding. Gafni also pointed to their hypocrisy by not voting for the female candidate for President in the recent presidential elections. As well, Yesh Atid has only one female minister in government.

MK Uri Maklev (UTJ) voiced his opposition by saying that why only women - why not give funding for including new immigrants, young adults, and others who are less-represented? The only purpose of the law is to hurt the Haredi parties.

MK Eichler (UTJ) pointed to the fact that Hanin Zoabi is one of the sponsors of the proposal, and calls the other MKs out for wanting to toss her for Knesset but still supporting her bill.

MK Yaakov Asher (UTJ) also called it hypocrisy. Asher said parties will decorate their lists with women just for the funding, and that is not increasing honor, but the opposite. And, Asher said, in Yesh Atid itself women have no say and everything is based on the word of one man.
source: Ynet and Kikar

does this opposition also apply to the affirmative action the Haredim wanted for jobs in the public sector? Will offices hire haredim just to get the tax benefits? Is that adding more honor to Haredim?

If something must be done to mainstream a certain issue - hiring haredim, promoting women, promoting other minorities, it has a benefit even if the method is not 100% perfect.

lus, I am not sure why they think this is just to hurt haredim... Gafni himself has said in the past that there is no problem with having females on the party lists - but the women are not interested. I am sure he can find a few talented women interested, and they will do a fine job representing the Haredi community. There is no reason they have o say including women n the list will hurt the haredi parties. it just means they will have to shake things up a bit.

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