The Heated Debate on 'Mini Skirts' in the Israeli Knesset

While the Israeli Knesset had one of its busiest agendas last week, even the controversial bill to legalize some settlements could not overshadow the heated debate on 'mini skirts' worn by female employees of the Knesset. Dozens of male and female Knesset members stood in the cold Jerusalem air on Wednesday, December 15, to protest in support of women wearing short skirts. The issue began a few days earlier when a new inspection team hired to protect the Knesset building asked an advisor to one of the Knesset members to open her coat before entering the parliament building to check the length of her skirt. The security team deemed the length of this woman's skirt as 'short' and did not allow her entry. In the following days, three other women were also barred from entering the Knesset due to the 'short' length of their skirts. On the morning of Wednesday, December 15, the security team intensified its scrutiny, stopping 12 women and girls for 'short skirt length.' However, this time, the girls and women who were denied entry called on other female Knesset members and staff for support and, by contacting Israeli media, drew public attention and encouraged some male representatives to join the protest. Many Israeli radio and television networks set aside essential daily topics to cover this protest in the Knesset, and the resulting uproar ensured a 'victory' for the women, allowing them to return to work. One woman who was stopped for her 'short' skirt told Israeli media: 'Our brains and abilities should be considered, not the length of our skirts.' Out of 120 Knesset members, 33 are women, the highest number in any term, but hundreds of female employees and a significant number of women on advisory teams for each representative also arrive at the Knesset daily. Yuli Edelstein, the Knesset speaker, said on Thursday, December 16, that the Israeli parliament is not like 'Iran or the Taliban,' but the status of the Knesset, one of the highest Israeli institutions, must be respected. Edelstein told Israel Radio that one cannot see a woman or girl in a mini skirt in the U.S. Congress either. Meanwhile, with the success of the women and their supporters, a regulation passed two weeks prior regarding 'appropriate' dress for male and female employees and visitors in the Knesset was effectively ignored, and it was announced that it would be 'revised.' The 'appropriate' dress code was enacted to maintain the dignity of the parliament in a country where people, politicians, and leaders are very lax about clothing; something that can be shocking to foreigners. Nevertheless, the protest on Wednesday in the Knesset in support of women aimed to prevent further religious impositions. During this protest, one male representative, in protest against the inspection team's orders, removed his tie, jacket, and shirt, standing in his undershirt. This male representative, Professor Manuel Trachtenberg, a famous Israeli economist, said, 'If we remain silent, they will surely impose the burqa on our women and girls tomorrow.' A young Israeli man also wore a red mini skirt over his pants in support of the women. Secular individuals in Israel are unhappy with the relentless efforts of religious individuals to impose their desired standards on society.