Dylan, Saying they were treated like shit was a little strong. I certainly was not trying to insult your people's home land.
As for having been in Israel, no I have never had the pleasure. I did do alot of research about different goverments and religions in my own quest for the truth of our world and all that. It's been a while since and alot of good things have been done since then. There are still alot of short comings in getting Israeli woman a voice in Government and religious equality. I don't doubt woman are being allowed to fight for their country right next to the men. It is certainly a start. I did a little research and have some quotes and links to share.




(WOMENSENEWS)--A 15-year struggle by women's group for equal access to Jerusalem's Western Wall ended in failure this week, when Israel's Supreme Court ordered that women should pray at a site near--but not in--the broad plaza that fronts the wall, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The ancient wall is revered by Jews as the remnants of the biblical Second Temple. Men are allowed to pray aloud in front of the wall wearing shawls.

Anat Hoffman, one of the leaders of an Israeli and U.S. group called Women of the Wall, began a crusade in 1988 for women to be allowed to read from the Torah and wear the "tallitot" while praying at the wall. Hoffman said she was devastated by the ruling. It was, she said, an unexpected setback after a court found in the women's favor nearly three years ago--a decision swiftly appealed by the state and in effect overturned Sunday.
http://www.womensenews.org/article.c...ontext/outrage



In the last decade, there has been increased awareness of human rights violations in every country. Evidence shows that women, particularly, have been denied their basic human rights. Often, the denial of women's human rights is based on religious law.
The declaration that "women's rights are human rights," which was made so eloquently at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993 and reconfirmed in 1995 at the Beijing World Conference on Women, should now include the recognition that Jewish women's rights are human rights.

As has been well documented, Jewish women can be discriminated against in marriage and divorce under Jewish law. While ancient Jewish law was designed to protect and support Jewish women, today that same law is being used by some as a tool to deny women their rights to equality in marriage, divorce, and the founding of a family.
http://www.jcpa.org/jcprg3.htm

One aspect of women’s lacking power in Israel, as well as their limited ability to influence the public agenda, is their low representation in politics in general and in government in particular. During the term of 16 governments since the establishment of the State, including that of Prime Minister Sharon, only nine women have served as cabinet ministers: Golda Meir, Shoshana Arbeli-Almozlino, Shulamit Aloni, Sara Doron, Ora Namir, Limor Livnat, Dalia Itzik, Yael (Yuli) Tamir and Zippi Livni (several served in more than one government). Although Golda Meir served as Prime Minister, not even one woman held a ministerial post in her government, despite the fact the her cabinet was one of the largest to date (24 cabinet ministers). Ariel Sharon’s first government included the largest number of female cabinet ministers - 11.5%.
http://www.iwn.org.il/iwn.asp?subjec...=Main%20Issues

Religion and Government should not stand in the way of anyone's right to be equal.
Sorry if I upset you in my last post. That was not my intention.