Knesset Panel Sends Gender-Separated Academia Bill to Final Votes

The Knesset Education Committee approved MK Limor Son Har-Melech's Student Rights Law amendment for second and third readings, moving the gender-separated academic-tracks bill toward final plenum votes. The proposal would let institutions open separate study tracks for men and women on religious grounds, with advanced-degree access at the center and newer drafts debated over whether separation stays in classrooms or can extend in defined separate institutions. Supporters frame the bill as a voluntary accommodation for Haredi and religious students, including women who seek advanced study without compromising observance; opponents argue it bypasses the 2021 High Court balance and risks broader campus separation. The Israeli test is to expand Torah-respecting access while preserving academic quality, voluntariness and dignity for every student.