Israel Radio Reshet Bet reports that a number of hospitals in Israel discriminate in maternity wards, and this is contrary to Health Ministry law. Correspondent Dikla Aaron phoned hospitals as a pregnant mom to probe their policy.
The report includes a phone call to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital during which we hear a mother-to-be (Reshet Bet reporter) asking if the hospital provides separate rooms for Jewish and Arab mothers. The female voice on the phone assured the caller this is the hospital policy and this is done even if a mother does not request it, especially in the maternity ward. The woman on the phone added “it works both ways as they too request it at times, albeit not as often” but this is the policy.
Hospitals which reportedly separate Jewish and Arab moms in a maternity wards include Ichilov, Meir, Hadassah (both) and Shaare Zedek. Soroka and Rambam Hospitals told the caller they cannot accommodate such a request.
Reshet Bet adds that the Health Ministry prohibits discrimination of any type.
When asked to comment, the hospitals mentioned explain they try to accommodate if they can but this is not hospital policy.
MK (Bayit Yehudi) Betzalel Smotrich responded angrily to the “left-wing report”, explaining “My wife is not a racist in any form but after delivering a child she appreciates quiet and not the family stir that accompanies Arab women after they give birth. She also does not wish to hear Arab prayer all day”.
MK (Arab Bloc) Dr. Ahmed Tibi responded, decrying the obvious racism that exists in Israeli society and the need to address this. Some MKs from the left-wing also condemned Smotrich’s comments.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Why in the world would an Arab care about being placed in a room with someone of their own background instead of someone Jewish?
How is that unfair biased treatment?
There was no mention of inferior care based simply upon it being a room of Arabs vs Jews.
I think the complaint is completely absurd.
Given the frequency of stabbing attacks, I think it a wise decision.
Do these people have their heads in the sand! There is intense hostility between Jews and Arabs, it isn’t fair to use a maternity ward to deny the Reality!!
The Arab women don’t want to be in the same rooms with Jewish women either. Also with the Arabs the whole chamula comes and you can’t get any rest. Personally, separate rooms are the best things and Jewish women have a right to request to be with another Jew. All this worrying about being called a raciest has gotten out of hand. If I want to be a raciest that’s my business.
Typical leftist hogwash.
Segregation by definition means that one group of people is separated either in a way that infers they are inferior, or in a way that causes them to receive inferior treatment or services.
None of which happens in any hospital, including those like Shaarey Zedek where the unstated policy is to have separate rooms for Arab and Jewish women.
Of course they need to keep em separate & under watch too. How many women terrorists have we had?? Just because they just gave birth doesn’t mean they can’t show up with a knife or worse.
It should be an option, not forced one way or the other. My roommates back in the day were non-Jews who had rowdy, boozy parties, the whole clan showed up, the noise & tumult was impossible, & TV was on all day & night – even Shabbos. THAT was in NY. Did I complain? Of course not, I wasn’t stupid.
Look at what happened to Batsheva Sadan. In 2003 her parents were murdered in Kiryat Arba.
A year ago, she was hospitalized and was put in the same room with a likely relative of their murderer (same last name, Kawasmeh).
Protecting life supersedes political correctness.