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Israel gender segregation row protest planned Shimon Peres urges Israelis to rally against extremism
(about 4 hours later)
Demonstrations are planned in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem, against the way some ultra-Orthodox Jews treat women. Israel's president has urged Israelis to rally against ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremism in what he called a fight for the "soul of the nation".
There have been clashes in the town between members of the conservative Jewish community and police. Shimon Peres was speaking as activists prepared to protest in the town of Beit Shemesh against the way some ultra-Orthodox Jews treat women.
Some ultra-Orthodox men have been demanding strict gender segregation and "modest" dress for women. There have been two days of clashes in the town after a girl said she had been harassed on her way to school.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to end attempts to enforce segregation of the sexes. Some ultra-Orthodox in Beit Shemesh are seeking to segregate men and women.
He has said that harassment and discrimination have no place in a liberal democracy. Mr Peres said today was a "test for the nation", not just the police.
'Deliberate provocation' "The entire nation must be recruited in order to save the majority from the hands of a small minority," href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/peres-urges-israelis-to-protest-against-religious-extremism-1.403887" title="Haaretz: 'Peres urges Israelis to protest against religious extremism'" >Mr Peres said, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper.
The rally is expected to be attended by some ultra-Orthodox Jews seeking to distance themselves from those they call "extremists". He said the demonstration was a defence of the "character" of the state of Israel "against a minority which breaks our national solidarity".
On Monday, one police officer was slightly hurt and a number of Orthodox Jews were detained after a group of some 300 ultra-Orthodox residents pelted police with stones and eggs. 'Afraid to go to school'
The incident was reportedly triggered after police tried to remove a sign ordering segregation. Anger spilled over after an eight-year-old American girl, Naama Margolese, said she was afraid to walk to school in the town because ultra-Orthodox men shouted at her.
"When I walk to school in the morning, I used to get a tummy ache because I was so scared... that they were going to stand and start yelling and spitting," she said in a subsequent interview with The Associated Press on Monday.
Women have described similar incidents in the town, south-west of Jerusalem.
Alisa Coleman told the BBC that what was happening in Beit Shemesh was "a microcosm of what's happening in the whole country".
The rally is also expected to be attended by some ultra-Orthodox Jews seeking to distance themselves from those they call extremists.
On Monday, one police officer was slightly hurt and a number of Orthodox Jews were detained after a group of some 300 ultra-Orthodox residents pelted police with stones and eggs in an incident reportedly triggered after police tried to remove a sign ordering segregation.
A television crew attempting to film in the town were surrounded and harassed - the second alleged attack on journalists in as many days.A television crew attempting to film in the town were surrounded and harassed - the second alleged attack on journalists in as many days.
On Sunday, a crew from Channel 2 news were attacked as they were filming, say reports, with rocks allegedly thrown at their van. On Sunday, a crew from Channel 2 news, which originally aired the story of the eight-year-old girl, were attacked as they were filming, say reports, with rocks allegedly thrown at their van.
The alleged assault came days after Channel 2 aired a story about an eight-year-old American girl, Naama Margolese, who said she was afraid to walk to school because ultra-Orthodox men shouted at her.
After Monday's clashes, unnamed ultra-Orthodox activists from Beit Shemesh issued a statement condemning the violence, but also accusing the media of initiating "deliberate provocations in order to make the peaceful, quiet and tolerant residents, who live their lives according to their beliefs, look bad".After Monday's clashes, unnamed ultra-Orthodox activists from Beit Shemesh issued a statement condemning the violence, but also accusing the media of initiating "deliberate provocations in order to make the peaceful, quiet and tolerant residents, who live their lives according to their beliefs, look bad".
Such clashes have become more frequent in Israel in recent years as the authorities have challenged efforts by ultra-Orthodox Jews to segregate women in public places.Such clashes have become more frequent in Israel in recent years as the authorities have challenged efforts by ultra-Orthodox Jews to segregate women in public places.
The BBC's Jon Donnison, in Jerusalem, says the events have highlighted what is a growing religious divide in Israel.The BBC's Jon Donnison, in Jerusalem, says the events have highlighted what is a growing religious divide in Israel.
Other recent points of contention include demands for separate seating areas for women on buses and a recent case of some soldiers who refused to remain at a performance by female singers.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up 10% of the population in Israel. The community has a high birth rate and is growing rapidly.Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up 10% of the population in Israel. The community has a high birth rate and is growing rapidly.