Parliamentary aide Shaked Hasson, who assists MK (Machane Tzioni) Merav Michaeli was stopped from entering Knesset by a guard who explained her dress was too short and did not comply with modesty standards. The guard pointed out her dress was above the knee and therefore, not in conformance with the Knesset modesty code. Hasson was eventually permitted to enter following the intervention of MK Michaeli. The guard reportedly apologized as Hasson explained she felt humiliated, but explained he was just doing his job as the dress code is enforced. Hasson explained she told him the dress and her leggings were indeed modest and the guard called over others and at one time, “all five were looking at me”, explaining she was utterly humiliated.
Michaeli immediately took it to the next level, insisting the dress code in Knesset cannot be used as another vehicle to “oppress women”.
When asked to comment, the Knesset spokesman explained only a woman may comment regarding the length of another’s woman’s dress and this incident will be addressed and the appropriate lessons learned. It is added that Knesset Director-General Albert Saharovitch recently released a memo reminding Knesset employees over the ban against flip flops and tank tops, but no mention was made regarding dress lengths.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
3 Responses
As long as one had enough hair on the chest to both tangle all the gold chains and to not show that tanned skin, it is perfectly fine to leave the shirt buttons open all the way to the pupik.
Look like a real kibbutznik, for Gherkin’s sake!!
And this is YWN news, why again???
Aside from the very general prohibition on “flip flops, tank-tops etc.”, there is NO dress code for MKs or their staffs, especially none with regarding to dress length. The stupidity of the guard attempting to impose some arbitrary and non-existent code is more a reflection of the narrow mindset of a few extremist MKs from religious parties again attempting to impose their moral standards on others. If they don’t like it, resign from the Knesset and hide in the beis medrash where they won’t have to be exposed to such pritzus.