Safed Shabbat protests and gender separation study
Haredi protests block Safed for fifth Shabbat as a concealed study warns against gender separation in academia.
Safed Shabbat protests and gender separation study — Hundreds of Haredim blocked the main road near the central bus station in Safed today, the fifth consecutive Shabbat of confrontations over bus operations before the end of the holy day.[^1] Police cleared the route, while secular residents protested the traffic disruption.[^1] The protests highlight a deepening societal rift over public observance of Shabbat in a city where Haredim now constitute about 54% of residents.[^1] A separate societal flashpoint emerged in academia. A comprehensive study commissioned by the Council for Higher Education (CHE), submitted in December 2024, recommended against expanding gender separation to therapeutic master's degrees, except for music and movement therapy, citing harm to professional training quality—especially in psychology.[^2] Senior CHE officials claim Education Minister Yoav Kisch, who serves as CHE chairman, prevented discussion of the findings, which contradict his policy.[^2] The Zafnat Institute study found that 93% of respondents prefer an academic track, and 69% preferred dedicated programs with separation, while 44% would consider enrolling even without separation.[^2] The concealment raises questions about whether policy is being driven by data or political considerations. Budget Diversion, Shin Bet Surveillance, and Coalition Threats — A senior government official threatened this evening (Saturday) in a conversation with Kan News that if the coalition goes to the opposition, it will disrupt every secret Knesset vote. The threat came hours after the High Court's unanimous ruling—a panel of five judges—ordering new elections for the State Comptroller. The official said: "It's amazing that the High Court judges don't understand the implications of this ruling. We will violate secrecy and demand that the High Court invalidate the results as the High Court ruled, and then we'll see how they handle it." The government is expected to divert about NIS 600 million from the five-year plan for Arab society to the police and Shin Bet. An additional NIS 220 million has already been diverted to enforcement. Critics warn the cut will harm prevention, not just treatme