Government must keep its commitment to integrate women in security-related areas
Photo: Marc Israel Sellem
Dr. Yifat Bitton
Photo: Ofer Amram
Security cabinet must not exclude women
Op-ed: Appointment of a woman as justice minister is only option left for female representation in next government's important forum.
1325 is not just a number. It's a number which symbolizes a resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council on the duty to integrate women in peace processes and negotiations.
Beyond the fact that from the moment the previous government made this decision, it is valid even after the government is replaced, in the next government its validity is even stronger: The ruling party of the previous government is the ruling party of the government taking shape, and therefore it must be even more committed to implement the decision.
Shortly before the previous government was disbanded, it made a festive and important decision – to adopt the resolution and its spirit and turn Israel into a state which is committed to the integration of women in security areas related to the prevention and resolution of international conflicts.
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There is allegedly no connection between this decision and the coalition agreements taking shape ahead of the new government's establishment, but a slightly deeper look reveals a strong link to the issue. Between the hectic coalition discussions, there have been endless speculations about the ministerial appointments. But this is not just about speculations or musical chairs or games of throne. The changing and often contradicting reports portray to the public the boundaries of the likelihood of these appointments.
From these reports, one can already imagine what the diplomatic-security cabinet may look like: It will be free of women. Among the ministerial positions which grant an automatic admission ticket to the cabinet, the name of a female candidate has not been raised. The last portfolio we can pin our hopes on at the moment is the Justice portfolio, and if that portfolio is given to a man as well, it will be the first time in a long time that women will be excluded from this important cabinet again.
The exclusion of women from security-diplomatic arenas is part of the familiar mechanism of the traditional division of gender roles. In Israel, where this exclusion is anyway taking place in a dramatic manner due to the military's key social power, such a decision will move us – as a society pursuing gender equality – backwards even more.
Moreover, such an exclusion will become particularly outrageous – and some will say illegitimate – in light of its inconsistency with the government's decision to adopt UN Resolution 1325.
Abandoning a government's promise to its male and female citizens within several months is not the only reason why we should strongly object to the appointment of a man rather than a woman as justice minister. UN Resolution 1325 was made following research which thoroughly examined women's contribution to the handling of conflict situations on the national and international levels. This research revealed their important role, as their methods of action allow the opening of other channels which contribute to the conflicts' resolution or at least make significant progress.
In a country like Israel, which has a deep need to hold negotiations and achieve peace and security, and in a government which declares its commitment to the issue, adding a woman to the cabinet is therefore critical.
It is allegedly possible, by the way, to add a minister to the cabinet on a personal basis and by making an exception for a person who has to be added. But such an act requires generosity on the prime minister's part.
The right thing to do is to allow a woman to become a cabinet member as of right and not on sufferance, and with a defined, constructed and key position in the cabinet, as the woman in charge of Israel's legal system.
Dr. Yifat Bitton is an expert on equality from the College of Management.
