Knesset Member Yuli Tamir
Photo: Uri Porat
Feminism hits diplomacy
Knesset adopts Amendment 4 to Women's Equal Rights Law; from now on, women must be present at state policy negotiations
JERUSALEM - The Knesset amended a law Wednesday requiring the presence of women for all future state policymaking.
Amendment 4 to Women's Equal Rights Law ensures that women will have a voice in the shaping of diplomatic and security policies.
This is the first time women have won such a legislative victory.
Knesset Member Yuli Tamir (Labor) praised the law as a step for women and good governance.
"In all my years of politics and extra-parliamentary activity," Tamir said, "I've noticed one clear trend - women are the ones who come up with revolutionary politico-security ideas and men in established positions adopt and implement them."
She cited the example of The Four Mothers, who trumpeted the cause of the withdrawal from Lebanon.
Women's groups are upset, though, that the law no longer includes a mandatory quota of 25 percent for women in negotiations involving the fate of the country.
