Several Israeli lawmakers and their assistants protested outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on Wednesday after female staffers were denied entry for wearing skirts that were deemed too short.
At least 15 female legislative assistants were not allowed into the Knesset because of their dress, said Asaf Goldfarb of a labor union representing parliamentary assistants. They had come to work wearing dresses and skirts to protest similar entry refusals that have taken place in recent weeks. Goldfarb said a Knesset representative told protesters that dresses in parliament must be no more than two inches above the knee.
"The concentration on what women are wearing is completely ridiculous," said Liron Shalish, a legislative assistant, who was stopped at the entrance to the Knesset.
Knesset spokesman Yotam Yakir said the parliament dress code forbids visitors and staffers from wearing torn clothing, shirts with political slogans, crop tops, sandals, shorts, and "too short skirts." He says only "a few" female legislative assistants were asked to change their clothing on Wednesday and all were let into parliament by the afternoon. He called the protest a "provocation," saying the Knesset enforced its dress code equally with men and women, and that it was more relaxed than rules enforced at other parliaments around the world.
