Premier Shimon Peres, in a gesture to Israeli feminists, expressed regret today that he was unable to include a woman in the unity coalition Cabinet he heads and promised to make every effort to “amend this substantive fault” in the future.
He made his promise in a letter to Ruth Lapidot, chairperson of the National Council for the Advancement of the Status of Women, which held its first meeting yesterday. Lapidot said she was disappointed that Peres referred to a “woman” rather than “women” in his letter inasmuch as women comprise 50 percent of Israel’s population.
Peres congratulated the Council on its first meeting and observed that in Israel in the late 20th century it is high time that women, “the beautiful and patient part of us” enjoy full and equal rights.
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