Female Journalists With Mike Pence at Western Wall Separated From Male Colleagues
'I don't like being restricted in my job just because I'm a woman. I can't stand it and it's unacceptable in the modern world'
Female journalists accompanying U.S. Vice PresidentMike Penceat the Western Wall on Tuesday were separated from their male colleagues and sent away to a fenced and covered area in the back of the Western Wall compound.
- Mike Pence Visits the Western Wall in Private Visit
- Pence: Unveiling of Trump's Mideast Peace Plan Depends on Palestinians
- Mike Pence's Zionist Sermon at Knesset Casts Him as Hero of Israel
After they were separated, the female journalists were placed in an area behind their male colleagues, without a line of sight to the Western Wall and therefore unable to see Pence approaching the Kotel.
The incident provoked outrage among the American female journalists accompanying him. Following their protest, White House personnel have commenced removing the covering as part of a compromise, so the journalists could stand atop chairs and catch a view of the visit.
One of the female journalists present, Globes reporter Tal Schneider, told Haaretz: "I don't like being restricted in my job just because I'm a woman. I can't stand it and it's unacceptable in the modern world. This discriminatory attitude towards women is infuriating and inappropriate in a modern country." Other female journalists present used the #PenceFence hashtag when discussing the event on social media.
"Once again the Kotel produces unnecessary international drama, marring a diplomatic achievement at a beautiful and important moment in the relations between Israel and the United States," commented MK Rachel Azaria (Kulanu). "Separating female journalists and leaving them behind a partition at the Kotel during the visit of Vice President Penceis an infuriating decision that proves that that Western Wall rabbi treats the plaza as his personal property.
Azaria said that the time had arrived to formalize the role of the Western Wall rabbi in clearly-worded legislation and to demand transparency regarding his work.
"My bill would do this, and only in this way will we restore the Kotel to its status as a holy place that unifies the entire Jewish people and avoid embarrassing international incidents," she added.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which maintains the Jewish holy site, issued a response statement defending the arrangements, saying that they were identical to the set-up during Trump's visit and declared that "men and women will never be allowed to mix in the [main] plaza, not today, not in the past and not in the future." Sources in the foundation told Haaretz that the media arrangements were put in place by the U.S. embassy and security officials. In the future, they noted, there would be room to explore creative solutions.
In response, a spokeswoman for Pence said that "Every effort was made to accommodate both female and male journalists while observing the rules in place at the Western Wall״
Click the alert icon to follow topics:
Comments
In the News
ICYMI

Israel Is Heading for Its Most 'Jewish' Election Ever

El Al to Stop Flying to Toronto, Warsaw and Brussels

American Judaism Is in Decline. That's Great News for American Jews

U.S. Official: West Bank Entry for Palestinian Americans Unrelated to Israeli Visa Waivers
