Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., March 28, 2008 Adar2 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:02 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

'We have more women than men' By Mijal Grinberg Siah Altori, 57, who lives in an unrecognized Negev Bedouin town and has four wives, says, "our religion allows us to have four wives, The logic is that it is shameful in Bedouin tradition for a women not to have a husband. If she wants to work or study, it's a problem for her to go alone to these places if she isn't married. We have more women than men, especially because many are marrying Russian women, or women from the North. So we have to make sure women have a livelihood and a home." Altori says state intervention will not turn the tide against polygamy. Sheikh Sami Abu Farakh, from Rahat, said Islam allows polygamy as long as the women are treated with equality. "It's a right and not an obligation," he said. He said if Bedouin society had an equal number of men and women, polygamy would not be necessary. He believes state intervention is "a way of saying that the Bedouin need to be educated," which angers him. Advertisement In contrast, Mona Al-Habanin, of Rahat, director of the Desert Princess association for Bedouin women's rights, says polygamy lowers women's status, and that the use of religion to defend the practice was a "distortion" of religious interpretation. "It says it can be done if there is equality, but there cannot be equality." Al-Habanin also says supposed concern for women is not really behind the practice. "Mostly men don't take women who are older, divorced or widowed as their second wife . They take young women, for their pleasure." Many such women are for all intents and purposes single parents, but the state does not recognize them as such, she says. Al-Habanin's associate, Sarah, who asked that her real name not be used, agreed with her. Men use polygamy as a threat, Sarah says. "If you don't do this and that, I'll take another wife, the man says," she said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Graphic footage Israel posts clips on YouTube of Jerusalem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.

Today Online Israel posts clips on YouTube of Jerusalem yeshiva terror attack Responses: 46 Rights group: Deaths in IDF W. Bank raid were apparent executions Responses: 216 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` Responses: 64 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel Responses: 205 More Headlines 01:57 Hamas smuggles Iranian blueprints into Strip for Qassam upgrades 22:43 Arab FMs re-endorse 2002 Saudi peace initiative 01:15 Rice will discuss final-status talks during Mideast visit 01:30 Dutch MP's anti-Islam film highlights anti-Jewish preaching 01:50 Bulgaria accepts blame for deaths of 11,000 Jews in Shoah 01:29 Lieberman stripped of attorney-client privilege in bribery probe 21:10 Ex-High Court chief: State must bring all Ethiopian Jews to Israel 01:37 Israeli ties to win top prize in prestigious Rubinstein competition 17:40 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel 23:08 Druze colonel appointed to be president's next military secretary 14:20 Egypt holds new talks with Hamas, Jihad over truce with Israel 20:29 Treasury official: Economically, Israel is a bi-national state 00:31 Tel Aviv goes dark as part of global 'Earth Hour' campaign Previous Editions Select Day 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar

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