Knesset Approves 52-43 Single-Sex University Programs Through Doctoral Studies
Updated
Updated · i24NEWS · Jul 16
Knesset Approves 52-43 Single-Sex University Programs Through Doctoral Studies
3 articles · Updated · i24NEWS · Jul 16
Summary
A 52-43 Knesset vote cleared a law letting Israeli universities run voluntary single-sex master's and doctoral programs, subject to approval by the Council for Higher Education.
Classroom-only separation is allowed under the measure, while public campus spaces must remain mixed, narrowing earlier concerns that segregation could spread across universities.
Supporters, including bill sponsor Limor Son Har-Melech, say Orthodox women had been blocked from graduate study because no gender-segregated options existed beyond bachelor's degrees.
Critics say the law entrenches segregation, risks lower-resourced parallel tracks for women, and raises costs by requiring duplicate courses, faculty and infrastructure.
Israel's nine medical school deans warned extending the policy into medicine and allied health could weaken academic standards and eventually affect public health.
With 'religious reasons' undefined, how far could gender separation extend into Israeli public life beyond the university?
Why are some Haredi women legally challenging a law meant to expand their community's educational access?
Can educational segregation lead to economic integration, or does it create a separate, unequal professional class?
Segregation or Inclusion? The Impact of Israel’s 2026 Law on Graduate Education and Women’s Rights
Overview
On July 16, 2026, the Israeli parliament passed Amendment No. 12 to the Student Rights bill, turning a controversial proposal into law. The new law introduces key changes by explicitly approving gender-segregated tracks for graduate studies and formalizing segregation in certain public spaces within higher education institutions. It also states that these segregated tracks are not considered discrimination, but rather part of universities' freedom of action. This legislative move immediately sparked strong reactions and debate, highlighting deep divisions over academic equality, women's rights, and the future direction of higher education in Israel.