I am pleased congratulate the women of Israel on the occasion of International Women’s Day – which is marked around the world and in Israel today.

This day symbolizes the struggle of women across the world for equal rights and equal opportunities in all spheres of life – equality, unfortunately, even after years of action, is not a given and still demands effort and struggle.

Over the 61 years of the State’s existence, we have made great strides in the field of the status of women, and have expanded governmental activity in fields which in the past were under the sole purview of the women’s organizations.

Our legal system constantly advances and updates itself, and over the past several years, advanced legal instructions have been added, such as the law determining incentives for workplaces which integrate and promote women; the duty to put both parents’ names on forms and not just the father’s name, as was done in the past; and the law extending maternity leave for working women.  This is how we realize equality, which in Israeli society is considered a supreme value.

Happily, during the last elections, the representation of women in the Knesset increased from 18 to 21 women, and I hope that we see even more women in the Government and in senior positions throughout the civil service.

However, despite our many achievements, we are still witness to difficult phenomena, such as domestic violence, human trafficking and distorted social perceptions.  Unfortunately, women must still struggle for equal opportunities at work, to reduce the gaps in wages compared with their male counterparts and for proper representation in decision-making positions.

Women in the State of Israel constitute 51% of the population, and they are our highest quality human resource.  Fully realizing their potential is in Israeli society’s clear interest, and their contribution to the national strength of our nation is incomparable.

In the Book of Proverbs it is written – “A woman of valor… Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates”.  I truly believe that every woman, like every man, should be promoted, examined and succeed in accordance with her personality, abilities, actions and path – and not based on prejudices or social limitations and restrictions.

On this special day, I send my warm greetings to all the women of Israel and to all those who work to advance and strengthen their status.

Sincerely,
Ehud Olmert