Bonot Alternativa (Building an Alternative) in Tel Aviv has established a women's militia to combat the ultra-Orthodox attempts to impose a “modest dress code” on women and girls in public transportation buses.
This announcement follows six incidents in August alone in which extremist Jews offended women for not wearing modest clothes or for daring to get on a bus.
On Sunday, a group of teenage girls trying to get on a bus in Ashdod were told by the driver to cover up because they were wearing “immodest” clothes. The girls were told to sit at the back of the bus.
“We were in shock,” said the girls after the incident. “We felt helpless and humiliated.”
Also, a woman in her late eighties trying to board a bus was told that it was a line that was only for men. In another incident, a girl trying to board the bus was told the same thing.
“Nativ Express learned about the incident and intends on thoroughly looking into the facts with the contractor that handled the journey on behalf of Nativ Express and to take any steps necessary to prevent repetition of this incident,” said the bus company in response to the incident.
"At the same time, and under the caveat that a thorough examination has not yet taken place, Nativ Express denounces behavior that excludes or harms its passengers based on their sex, race, nationality, or dress."
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident, as well as other similar incidents, saying that “the state of Israel is a free country, where no one can limit who gets on public transportation and no one can dictate where she or he sits.”
However, Bonot Alternativa said: “This is not a mistake, it’s a policy...There is one captain navigating this dangerous ship, and he is the prime minister.”
The Movement stressed that the government is endorsing a flagrant discrimination policy against women. Out of 34 ministers, there are only six female ministers. Out of 34 director generals of ministries, there are only two women (they were nine in former government).
There is a policy that aims to put women aside, especially with the presence of extremist religious parties in the rule. The bus incidents reflect public policy, said the Movement.
Official statistics revealed that women represent 61 percent of the passengers of public transportation buses.
Bonot Alternativa decided to activate women militias who would get on the bus for inspection and for asking the women if they were harassed by the driver or religious passengers.
The movement affirmed that it would combat this phenomenon in all legal ways.
