'Against the law.' Livnat
Photo: Yoav Gilai
Minister Livnat: Turkel's request chauvinistic
Likud member says will vote against request made by panel probing flotilla raid to add two more male members
"The Turkel Committee's request to add two more men to its panel is chauvinistic," Education, Culture, and Sport Minister Limor Livnat (Likud) told Ynet Thursday, adding that she would vote against the proposal during Sunday's cabinet meeting.
The Turkel Committee is probing the May 31 commando raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish ship, which left nine Turkish nationals dead.
"I suggested that the 'WePower' (women's rights group) petition the High Court if the government approves the appointment of two additional men to the (Turkel Committee)," said Livnat.
If the request is approved, Reuven Merhav and Professor Miguel Deutsch will be joining retired Justice Jacob Turkel, Amos Horev and Shabtai Rosen, alongside observers William David Trimble and Ken Watkin.
"As soon as the establishment of the Turkel Committee was approved, I asked why there were no women on the panel," Minister Livnat told a women's conference in Kiryat Ono. "The answer I received was that the government was unable to find any women who would be willing to participate, but since it was only about three people – I didn’t think it was such a big deal."
Livnat said appointing two more men to the committee would constitute a violation of state law, as women must be adequately represented in any governmental panel.
Livnat said she plans on bringing the matter up with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, and even named some potential female candidates, including law professors Daphne Barak-Erez, Ruth Ben Yisrael and Ruth Lapidot.
