Crimson Warnings Revisited: How Israeli Women Face a Deepening Rollback

Years before the war in Gaza, a group known as the “Women in Red” marched silently, dressed in crimson robes, warning of danger to women’s rights.

Drawing imagery from The Handmaid’s Tale, the protestors sought to highlight how Israel’s proposed judicial overhaul could reverse decades of hard-won gender equality.

At the time, government officials dismissed the demonstrations as exaggerated theater, yet political developments since then have made those warnings increasingly difficult to ignore.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reliance on ultra-Orthodox and nationalist partners has accelerated a shift toward greater religious authority and conservative social norms.

One major concern has been efforts to weaken the Supreme Court, historically a key institution protecting women’s legal equality and limiting religious control over civil matters.

Global indicators reflect this transformation, as Israel’s position in international gender equality rankings has dropped dramatically compared with its standing only a few years ago.

National data supports this trend, showing declining female participation in politics, reduced economic influence, and fewer women in senior leadership positions.

Representation has thinned across government, with women holding few cabinet roles, no major party leadership posts, and no permanent director-general appointments.

Activists warn that expanding the powers of religious courts, combined with rising violence against women, risks pushing Israeli society decades backward on gender equality.