Executive summary: Women’s rights in Israel are facing significant setbacks, with advocates pointing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government as the primary cause. This decline is evidenced by plummeting global rankings and specific legislative moves that expand religious authority over civil life.
Over the past three years, Israel’s standing on gender equality has dramatically fallen, dropping from 27th to 84th in the Women, Peace and Security Index by Georgetown University. This index measures various indicators including employment, education, and security, with the recent war contributing to the lower score. However, beyond statistical declines, concrete policy changes are underway, such as bills aimed at expanding the power of state-run religious courts.
The proposed legislation would grant rabbinical courts, staffed exclusively by men and operating under Jewish law, authority over financial disputes and potentially child custody, areas previously under secular jurisdiction. Proponents argue this restores historical legal authority, but critics warn it institutionalizes discrimination against women. For instance, Moriah, a mother involved in a custody battle, described the courts as “an anti-woman institution” where women are systematically disadvantaged.
Political representation has also waned, with only six women among 33 ministers and no women leading major political parties in the current coalition. This government has not appointed a single woman as director-general of any ministry, reflecting a broader trend of marginalization. Daphna Hacker of Tel Aviv University noted that women are “virtually absent” from key decisions, marking an unprecedented backlash against decades of progress.
The surge in violence against women adds urgency to the concerns, with 44 femicides reported this year, the highest in a decade. Advocates link this to increased gun ownership, which rose 40% after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir eased licensing post-October 7 attacks. Data shows a spike in women seeking to block partners’ gun permits, highlighting safety fears intertwined with policy shifts.
Opposition lawmaker Merav Cohen, chair of the Knesset committee on women’s status, called this “the worst government for women in the history of the country,” accusing it of indifference or active normalization of harm. The religious parties in Netanyahu’s coalition, essential for its survival, are pushing a conservative agenda that prioritizes traditional values over gender equality, affecting various aspects of public and private life.
Despite the alarming trends, some analyses question the narrative of sharp decline. HonestReporting, a media watchdog, critiqued CNN’s reliance on the WPS Index, arguing it measures broad societal conditions like conflict proximity rather than specific women’s rights regressions. They point out that Israel ranks below countries with legally embedded discrimination, such as Saudi Arabia, suggesting the index may be misleading in wartime contexts.
Looking ahead, the rabbinical courts bill is nearing final readings in the Knesset, with potential passage in the coming weeks. Women’s rights groups continue to protest, as seen in recent demonstrations where activists posed as gagged brides in chains. The outcome will test the balance between religious authority and democratic freedoms in Israel, with implications for gender equality long-term.
