82-year-old Holocaust survivor suing Israeli airlines over discrimination against women

Published April 7th, 2016 - 11:00 GMT
Rabinowitz's case is not the only time El Al flights have been delayed because ultra-Orthodox men refuse to sit next to women. (Flickr/Pieter van Marion)
Rabinowitz's case is not the only time El Al flights have been delayed because ultra-Orthodox men refuse to sit next to women. (Flickr/Pieter van Marion)

An 82-year-old Holocaust survivor is suing El Al airlines over claims that the airlines' seating policy is discriminatory against women, Associated Press reported.

Renee Rabinowitz says a flight attendant on Israel's national carrier asked her to change seats on a flight from Newark to Tel Aviv last year because an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man said sitting next to a woman would violate Jewish law.

The advocacy group representing Rabinowitz, The Israel Religious Action Center, says El Al violated a ban on gender discrimination in public services. Court documents provided by the group to the AP say Rabinowitz was made to feel "humiliated" by having to move because of her gender.

Rabinowitz is seeking $17,000 in damages from the airline.

El Al told the AP it will respond to her claims in court.

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content