Israel's Rosa Parks: Tanya Rosenblit refuses Ultra-Orthodox Haredi demand to sit in the back of bus

An Israeli woman has been thrust into the country's headlines this week after her refusal to move to the back of an Egged bus caught the imagination of the country's editors and politicians alike. Tanya Rosenblit, who works as a production assistant at news channel JN1, was off-duty at the time of the incident and traveling on private business from her Ashdod hometown to Jerusalem. Her refusal to move to the back of the bus when asked to do so by Ultra-Orthodox Haredi passengers led to an ugly confrontation which was only partially resolved by the arrival of the police.

Despite requests to 'show respect' to the sensibilities of the Ultra-Orthodox Haredi communities along the public transport route, Rosenblit stood her ground throughout and was eventually successful in her bid to ride at the front of the bus. She then posted photos and commentary about her experience on various social networking sites, drawing an overwhelming response which soon led to a media frenzy as different Israeli TV channels and national newspapers queued up to interview the woman fast being dubbed "the Israeli Rosa Parks."

Meanwhile, Rosenblit's protest has also been officially lauded by PM Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Tzipi Livni, serving to thrust the thorny issue of gender segregation back into the headlines. Rosenblit has denied that her actions were in any way anti-religious and claims instead that her bus protest was merely a stand against extremism. As Tanya says in the video, "I didn't do anything that I wouldn't do again, and I don't think [...] I'm a hero. I think it's something that every woman and every person should do."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• yt:crop=16:9
• jn1
• jewish news one
• women's rights
• segregation
• israel
• egged
• bus
• haredi
• israeli
• police
• ultra-orthodox
• religious extremism
• rosa parks
• african american
• benjamin netanyahu
• tzipi livni

[curlew0609]

Why is it "modest" to make a woman parade past all the men sitting on the bus to get to her seat? The guys should be in the back if it's modesty they are worrying about.

[mirawayne]

Good on you Tanya, and all other woman who are don't like to be discriminated by a invented cult, hasidim, haredim and anybody ells whether Jewish or Moslem, jut look at the fanatic Muslim how they treat they woman and make compare who is worse?this minority (8%) has a hucpa! not enough they don't bring anything to society, they have demands.Force them to go to the army like everybody ells who put they life on line for them, and than they might have something to say.

[mallett5489]

ON ACCOUNT OF PRINCIPLE OF MISS ROSENBLIT AN MISS PARKS , ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, IF ONE DON'T WANT TO SIT BECAUSE OF 1 REASON OR ANOTHERE, THEY SHOULD BUY THEIR OWN VEHICLE

[mallett5489]

GREAT TAYNA GREATTTTTTT, U'VE DONE WELL.... U ARE AH ROLEMODEL FOR WOMEN IN AH WHOLE

[jesusonXTC]

if it was a palestinian who refused to remove from the bus...NOW that! would be rosa parks :)

[blackarawak83]

been built as a ethnic based modern state. It's ironic that Jews are discriminating among themselves.

[blackarawak83]

I find it a bit perplexing that this young woman is being compared to Rosa Parks as in 50's US. Israel's foundations have been bi

[AntiSpeciesistWorld]

"With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil—that takes religion" - Steven Weinberg

[CDPDPatrolUnit]

Religion is the OPIUM for the MASSES -- said by the most famous German Jew in history

[Frankenpalin]

@fusedchromosome They wouldn't be able to afford it because they refuse to work, I'm not kidding, those ultra Orthodox douchebags are all on on welfare

[fusedchromosome]

Perhaps these bozos should buy their own buses. Where the hell do they get off trying to dictate behavior on "public" transportation? Arrogant pricks. Circumcision must have cut off the blood supply to their brains.

[456isinthemix]

What I don't understand is why Israel is providing welfare to these idiots. If they, as some Israelis have said, "contribute nothing to society" (which I assume means they don't work and/or pay taxes) and refuse to join the Army when even women have to join, why doesn't the Israeli government ignore all their demands and cut them off welfare and other government service?!