Beit Shemesh (illustration)
Beit Shemesh (illustration)Israel news photo: Flash 90

The Education Department of the Beit Shemesh Municipality on Sunday held a discussion regarding student transportation for special education schools.

The municipality invited all parents to attend at the summit, which was attended by the municipality Commissioner of Education, Rabbi Yeshayahu Ehrenreich, and the Director of Education, Rabbi Yohanan Kirshenbaum.

However, secular parents were furious to discover that the discussion would in fact take place in two separate meetings – one for men and one for women.

Residents complained that imposing separation towards the general public was problematic and unethical.

Miri Shalem, a resident of the city, told Walla News that "it is clear that the trend of ‘haredization’ is taking over. This is the trend of the municipality. The deputy mayor is haredi.”

“‘Haredization’ is everywhere. You cannot make a public event separated, but our complaints no longer help. There is anguish all across the city but nothing we say will help,” said Shalem.

The Beit Shemesh Municipality said in a statement: "The Education Department responded to the request of the parents of special education children to hold an open meeting to discuss the improvement of transportation.”

“At their request, the discussion was to be open to all sectors but held separately, thus allowing 75% of the parents, who belong to the haredi sector, to participate in the event.”