Jerusalem, Dec. 27 – Israelis across the political spectrum are condemning extremist attacks on women’s rights by some ultra-orthodox Jews, asserting Tuesday that Israel will remain a bastion of gender equality in the Middle East.

The issue has been front page news in the Israeli media since a television news crew reported the harassment of an eight-year-old schoolgirl in the city of Bet Shemesh, who was spat at by an ultra-orthodox extremist. The attacker belongs to a radical sect that wants to close a religious girls’ elementary school that opened in September adjoining their neighborhood. The sect claims the girls are not dressed modestly enough, and members have repeatedly harassed and threatened students.