Giving the state’s response to the High Court of Justice in the matter of mehadrin bus lines, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz stated on Sunday he can support a voluntary arrangement permitting segregated service but the state cannot back the compulsory segregation of men and women on public transportation.

The minister was responding to a petition filed by the Israel Religious Action Center against his office, Egged and Dan, two major bus operators with state contracts.

There are some 56 mehadrin lines operating, which will now be permitted to remain segregated on a voluntary basis, but passengers cannot be compelled to adhere to demands for women to sit in the rear in compliance with mehadrin dictate according to the minister.

Katz accepted the chareidi neighborhoods wishing to maintain separate seating but simultaneously called for taking a firm position against violence aimed at those who do not wish to comply. He also permits displaying signs stating a bus is mehadrin and as such, riders are requested to comply, but the signs must also state that compliance is not mandatory.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)