international women’s day – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

9 New Photos of Arab Israeli Women

March 6, 2019Sharon A

Time for something new!

What news and new photos to post for International Women’s Day?

In the past Israeli Apartheid Week was making headlines at the same time.

In honor of International Women’s Day, Israeli Apartheid was first posted eight years ago.

Women in Saudi Arabia can now drive a car. Haneen Zoabi is no longer running for the Knesset.

But otherwise that viral post with 24 photos of Arab women stands true.

The blog titled 15 Real Photos of Arab Girls is still going since March 2012.

In the last 3 years alone, those girls have received over 26,000 views.

And three years ago there was the blog called 18 New Photos of Arab Girls.

Those glorious palm trees at Kikar Safra, Jerusalem Municipal Hall, have been gone for over a year, but Arab girls and women still shop of Jaffa Road.

Women are represented at the top of the Israeli legal system. Both the past and present heads of the Supreme Court, as well as the Minister of Justice are women.

The Israeli Supreme Court has two women serving as justices besides President Esther Hayut.

This photo was taken on the day Hayut officially took her position.

Judges are sworn in at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, including this group of new Qadis, Sharia Court Judges.

While Muslim women were in attendance, there was no female judge appointed that day.

These men entered an all-male Israeli Sharia Court System. Ayelet Shaked said she wanted females also, and a year later Hana Khatib was sworn in at Beit Hanasi.

Not many women were present at Beit Hanasi when Arab security and police conferred.

But women were the focus of this media conference on Israeli version of #MeToo in Tel Aviv.

So what else is new to share in honor of International Women’s Day?

This photo of shopping in a Jerusalem supermarket before Passover is not new.

However, the fact that more Arab men are going shopping in Mamilla Mall is new.

Arab women eating in Jerusalem restaurants is not new.

However, I still refrain from showing them clearly.

Unless they are in my face like this young women; I often wonder where she is today.

More young women are running, this was a Jerusalem Women’s Night Run. The Jerusalem Marathon is a week away, and when the rain clears participants are out running and training.

In the Israel Museum this old photo is displayed, part of the story of Heftizbah Babayoff and family, who arrived in Jerusalem by camel in the 1800’s, from Bukhara.

What a contrast with this young woman who was sitting near the walls of the Old City, working on her laptop computer.

Women have come a long way in Jerusalem, Israel.

Where will we be next year for International Women’s Day?

5 Special Israeli Women on International Women’s Day

March 8, 2017Sharon A

International Women’s Day.

Photos of Arab women went viral in 2011.

Then in 2012, I published photos of Arab girls

that just keep going and going.

Muslim girls in Jerusalem Israel shopping

Arab girls still can be found shopping in Jerusalem

on just about any day in most neighborhoods.

But this year I would like to focus on a few special women.

MK Rachel Azaria is using her position in the Knesset,

Rachel Azaria in Knesset committee room

with the assistance of various women’s groups,

to help working conditions and family life.

Yesterday another committee meeting was held on issues

including extended parental leave and allowing fathers to

take time off on the birth of child without fear of losing their jobs.

On my way out of the Knesset I passed

Arab students in Knesset on tour

an Arab school group starting a Knesset tour.

Arab girls going to visit Knesset

Muslim girls were on their way to the Knesset also.

I have meet some impressive Arab women and girls,

but most have not wanted their photo and names shared.

Perhaps times are slowly changing,

Norhan Abu Kutuv of Yafo at Ynet conference

because seated next to President Reuven Rivlin

on a teen panel at a Ynet education conference,

was Norhaan, who asked a question of the Israeli President.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotolvely

held at a press conference at the King David Hotel.

Tzipi Hotovely speaking in Jerusalem

Justice Minister Ayelet Sheked answered questions

from American Jewish leaders.

Both women have promising futures in Israeli politics,

but one woman stands out for my special recognition

on this International Women’s Day,

Karnit Flug.

Bank of Israel president Karmit Flug at Jerusalem Press Club annual report

Remember how they said no man could replace

Stanley Fischer as President of the Bank of Israel?

Karnit Flug was interim head,

and was then appointed to the top position.

Each year she presents a report on the Israeli economy,

and each year she is more impressive.

Slowly banking is getting better

and things are changing.

Women in Israel are making a positive difference.

18 New Photos of Arab Girls

March 8, 2016March 6, 2021rjstreets

Another International Women’s Day during Israel Apartheid Week,

while each year the IAW hate-fest gets longer and louder,

not much else has changed.

Hanin Zoabi can still yell about

“occupation and injustice” from inside the Knesset.

She can shout that Israel is a Jewish state and not democratic.

She rants against the Israeli government

and retains her seat in the Knesset

and her right to free speech.

Does she not see her freedoms as an Arab woman in Israel,

as compared to females in the rest of Arab world?

There are not just female Arab Knesset members,

but Arab – Muslim girls visit the Knesset on a regular basis,

an Arab girl can work as a guide,

while an Arab female Knesset member speaks with the media.

When seven new Qadis were sworn in at Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s official residence,

females were not among the new Islamic Sharia judges,

but Muslim women and girls were invited and attended.

Women in Saudi Arabia are still not allowed to drive a car.

Sometimes new female drivers are chaperoned,

but in Jerusalem, Israel,

I have seen a female driving instructor wearing a hijab.

Life is not always a day in the park,

but many like to sit and enjoy the new Teddy Fountain.

Arab girls can walk about freely.

They can be found

with cell phones texting inside an office building,

or alone on the street.

As this couple was crossing busy King George Street,

there were two Israeli girls in uniform on the other side,

who did not even notice they were there.

Arab women and girls can be found,

shopping in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk,

in Talpiot, in groups

or alone,

day or night,

in the stores of Mamilla Mall,

or along Jaffe Street in town.

Photos of Arab girls,

walking to Jaffa Gate and the Old City,

or eating in a cafe on Ben Yehuda Mall,

are normal, every day, no-news occurrences.

I have too many photos to share.

But, these are three all-time favorites:

This woman and other Arab women receiving diplomas for

their advanced graduate degrees in science at Hebrew University.

This woman taking a selfie at the Western Wall Plaza,

while hundreds of IDF soldiers waited for a special ceremony.

And this one,

oh, those Arab girls.

Five years have gone by since my first post,

and Arab women and girls in the Middle East

still have more freedom in Israel.

Updated: On March 13, 2016,

one photo was requested to be removed.

March 8, 2021 – the young woman who asked to have her photo removed let me take it when she was a Knesset tour guide. Today she is serving as an Israeli diplomat in a foreign country.