Part of the explanation lies in the Druze religion, which offers relative tolerance towards women's advancement. Druze religious texts emphasize the importance of educating girls, for example. In theory, women have equal rights to men regarding marriage and divorce, and even inheritance, which divide them sharply from Muslim Arab communities. A measure of equality in the basic tenets might be one reason why certain advancements in women's status, at a slow pace, are not cause for a major uproar. Women are permitted to become religious leaders, but in reality this doesn't happen.
Education is another area that focuses ample attention on women.
When the assistant to the new council head was questioned about the goals for women's advancement, he quickly launched into a chatty, earnest conversation about raising and educating his own four daughters. It is not for any man to forbid her to pursue anything she feels she wants to. Dahlia Scheindlin is a freelance writer who writes about culture, social and political issues. She lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.