Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the forced removal of a female passenger from her bus seat by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man on a public bus during a cabinet meeting, stating that Israel “must protect its public space, and maintain its openness and safety for all citizens.”

Netanyahu openly denounced the exclusion of women from the public space, adding that the country must not allow fringe groups to break up “all that we have in common.”

Netanyahu’s condemnation came one day after Tanya Rosenblit was told by an ultra-Orthodox male passenger to move to the back of the bus. The man held the door of the bus open and would not allow it to move for approximately 30 minutes.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni (Kadima) phoned Rosenblit in wake of the incident, praising her action for sending a strong message that “respects Judaism, yet is not willing to accept the anti-democratic radicalization which excludes women.”

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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