By A.M. Goldstein

HAIFA —The way Israeli courts interpret the country's sexual harassment law may actually perpetuate stereotypes about women and, worse, hurt their battle for equality in society.

A University of Haifa Law Faculty lecturer, Dr. Noya Rimalt, hurled this criticism Sunday, Feb. 5,  at the 1998 legislation after studying scores of verdicts in sexual harassment cases.

"The rulings are in contradiction to the original feminist critique," Rimalt charged on the basis of her research.  "They miss its educational and declarative goal."

That goal, the law teacher explained, was equality.  The feminist criticism stressed the fact that sexual harassment is a practice of gender discrimination. It preserves women's lower status in society. 

"In contrast," Rimalt argues, "the Israeli courts emphasize the harm done to a woman's dignity and that women are humiliated by sexual harassment.  This is paternalistic and a stereotype, and equality disappears.  The court system sends out a moral message, one that ignores the principal harm—which to the equal status of women in society."

Rimalt does not belittle the legislation, which led to more meaningful punishment for the guilty and to tougher enforcement against acts of sexual harassment.  On the other hand, she urges an examination of the problematic aspects of the law.

"It is especially worrisome," she says by way of indirect criticism, "in light of the fact that the law came at the initiative and inspiration of feminist organizations.  They were partners to what went into it.

The University of Haifa legal scholar believes that the basic assumptions guiding the courts in their interpretation and enforcement of sexual harassment law must be reexamined.  "The law must be transformed into a much more effective tool for eradicating the phenomenon," she urged.

A.M. Goldstein is the English language editor for the University of Haifa's Department of External Affairs.