Rights10/11/2026

How Changes to Legal Institutions May Affect Women’s Rights

An analysis article by Zman.co.il examines how the courts and legal advisers ensure in practice that women’s rights are protected in Israel. The author warns that changes already adopted concerning the work of these institutions could, after the elections, weaken oversight of decisions by public authorities.

Key facts

•Publication: October 11, 2026
•The religious arbitration law passed in March 2026
•Arbitration vote: 65 to 41
•Change in the status of the Attorney General’s legal opinions—from January 1, 2027
•Separate studies: 52 votes to 43
•No legal case or proceeding number was specified in the original

Legal Mechanisms Against Discrimination

In Bnei Brak, the city’s rabbis ordered that sidewalks be separated for men and women, after which the organization “Shmira Kehilchata” posted signs accordingly. A large sign on Shlomo Hamelekh Street was removed following an appeal by the Attorney General to the municipality, although smaller signs remained in place. In 2023, the Attorney General’s position also halted a pilot initiative for separate bathing hours at natural springs: the Israel Nature and Parks Authority had no authority to restrict entry on the basis of sex without explicit statutory authorization.

What Will Change in the Work of Legal Advisers and the Courts

A law passed in July will allow the government to determine that the Attorney General’s legal opinion does not reflect the law in force. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, unless the next Knesset repeals it. In addition, a change to the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee was approved in March 2025 and is scheduled to take effect beginning with the next Knesset. In the article’s author’s assessment, these measures could weaken institutions that previously restricted unlawful gender segregation and other decisions by state authorities.

Religious Arbitration in Civil Disputes

In March 2026, the Knesset enacted a law allowing parties to a civil dispute, by mutual consent, to refer it to arbitration before a rabbinical court or a Sharia court. The court will be permitted to apply the religious law it follows, but may not derogate from substantive rights enshrined in the Women’s Equal Rights Law; disputes between current or former spouses are excluded. The arbitration award may be submitted directly for enforcement without prior court approval. Opponents of the provision fear that where there are power imbalances, the weaker party’s consent will not always be freely given, and that the absence of a requirement to obtain judicial approval will reduce external oversight.

Additional Legislative Changes

The Knesset also approved an expansion of the option for separate studies for men and women in advanced academic degree programs—by a majority of 52 to 43. The religious arbitration law passed by a majority of 65 to 41. Previously, in July 2023, a bill to reorganize the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women passed a preliminary reading, but it did not reach a first reading and was withdrawn after the Knesset was dissolved.

What this means for you

For a person encountering gender segregation imposed by a municipality or another public body, not only the content of the law will matter, but also the ability to have it enforced through legal advisers and the courts. In a civil dispute, the parties will be able to choose religious arbitration, and its decision will not require prior court approval, but women’s substantive rights established by law must be preserved. The practical effects of the changes will depend, among other things, on whether the next Knesset repeals them.

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