The Knesset on Monday evening approved MK Moshe Gafne’s Affirmative Action Bill in its second and final readings, passing it into law. Gafne explained the bill will provide a fair chance for new immigrants and chareidim alike as it addresses both populations.
When fighting to gain support for the bill, Gafne stated “This is a very interesting phenomenon that must always be taken it into account when you have achievements. When was affirmative action for Arabs, Druse, Circassians, women, people with disabilities, Ethiopians – it passed. When it comes to chareidim however, legal advisors, both men and women on the committee, exhibit resistance to the matter for chareidim. This will not occur”.
Gafne threatened to topple the coalition over the legislation, insisting he will not tolerate the continued discrimination that exists against the chareidi tzibur at large. 35 MKs backed the bill and there were no abstentions.
The law is designed to ensure there is fair representation among the ranks of civil service from the chareidi community as must be the case with other communities.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Yeah, because affirmative action works so great in the states….
If it already existed for other groups, that’s the problem! The world needs LESS affirmative action, not more!
Just like in the US. Affirmative Action provided for barely trained minorities landing jobs and positions they are totally unqualified for. Moreover, once hired, try firing them and avoiding a lengthy and costly lawsuit.
Of course the frum oilam needs jobs to be able to make a decent living. And, of course, there are many places which will try to bypass the religious person for variety of reasons. That part has to be corrected, absolutely!! That is a basic civil rights issue, not Affirmative Action. If a candidate for a position lacks skills, training, or experience, pushing him into that position will bring about nothing good.
What’s next, an Affirmative Action frum prime minister…..just like the US?