Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri
Shas Chairman Aryeh DeriFlash 90

Minister of the Interior and head of Shas party Aryeh Deri convened a meeting of mayors of various haredi municipalities to address recent concerns of discrimination against girls of Sephardi background at some haredi institutions.

"I requested to convene this meeting due to the large number of complaints I have been receiving concerning Sephardi girls that still haven't been enrolled in [religious girls' institutions]. This situation causes great suffering to parents and daughters alike, and is also a desecration of G-d's name. I am sure that all of you are doing your best to address the issue and that most girls have been integrated, but it is our obligation to give solutions to the girls that still have not."

During the meeting, the mayors gave overviews of progress in integration in their respective cities. The data showed that most girls had, indeed been integrated, but a limited number of girls still hadn't been connected with a proper institution of study.

They also noted that efforts are nevertheless being made to integrate all the girls despite difficulties that arise from classroom shortages, which creates a need to rent additional buildings to cover the shortage in classroom space.

Deri summarized the meeting, saying, "The situation has, indeed, improved, but there is still room for change. I hope that, in the coming days, all the problems will be quickly solved."