Jerusalem: The Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, has officially sanctioned a law allowing gender-segregated graduate study programs, despite widespread resistance from higher education institutions. The legislative body confirmed that Amendment No. 12 to the Student Rights bill was passed during its second and third readings, thereby enacting it into law.

According to Anadolu Agency, the bill was spearheaded by Limor Son Har-Melech, a member of the far-right Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party, which is led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The vote saw 52 lawmakers in favor and 43 in opposition. The amendment enables higher education institutions to provide gender-segregated tracks for master's and doctoral programs, ensuring that the separation in mixed institutions is confined to classrooms and is optional for students.

The explanatory notes accompanying the legislation indicate that Israel's Council for Higher Education currently allows gender-segregated study tracks primarily for bachelor's degree programs under certain conditions. The new law extends the provision to graduate programs, asserting that religiously based gender-segregated study tracks for men and women do not amount to discrimination.

Israel's public broadcaster, KAN, highlighted that the legislation passed despite significant opposition from higher education institutions. These institutions have expressed concerns that the law could compromise academic standards, particularly in fields such as medicine and other health professions. During the Knesset session, opposition lawmakers displayed signs stating "Separation is exclusion."

KAN further reported that the deans of all Israeli medical schools had penned a letter to lawmakers, cautioning that the legislation might impair medical education, weaken professional training, and harm the international reputation of Israeli universities. The deans also warned that gender segregation in medical training could diminish Israeli doctors' prospects of securing specialization placements at top hospitals abroad, potentially impacting the future quality and availability of medical professionals.

This legislative move follows a contentious decision by the municipality of Bnei Brak, located in central Israel, to implement gender segregation on sidewalks along several main streets, guided by city rabbis. Private Channel 13 reported that this action contradicts previous Israeli Supreme Court rulings against signs enforcing gender segregation in public spaces.