Victory in the High Court: Zero Female CEOs

In a landmark decision, the High Court of Justice ruled that the appointment of women to CEO positions and other positions of trust is a legal obligation, and the government must take active measures to implement this.

The High Court accepted the petition (filed on July 25, 2025) regarding the “CEO Women Petition” submitted by the Israel Women’s Network, Na’amat, and Forum Dvorah, led by attorneys Hagi Klayai, Gali Zinger, and Chaya Erez.

The Court determined that the government had violated its legal duty to ensure the representation of women in senior roles and mandated that a mechanism to ensure gender equality be implemented within six months.

The High Court accepted the petition filed by women’s rights organizations, ruling clearly that the obligation of proper representation applies to the positions of CEOs within government ministries, as well as to the hundreds of positions of trust filled within these ministries, including chiefs of staff, advisors, and spokespeople in key decision-making roles.

Until now, trust positions have predominantly been filled by men through a “buddy system,” denying women the opportunity to influence decisions in the most critical areas. The High Court ruled that the government had not fulfilled its legal responsibilities and had failed to take sufficient steps to identify and appoint women to senior positions. The Court instructed the State to establish, within six months, guidelines that will ensure the practical implementation of the obligation to provide proper gender representation.

Colonel (res.) Maya Heller, former Chair of Forum Dvorah’s Board of Directors, praised the ruling issued by the High Court of Justice, which mandated the government to establish guidelines for the proper representation of women in senior management roles and positions exempt from tenders, including positions of trust in the public service.

She expressed hope that the government would now cease to violate the law and adhere to the High Court's ruling, emphasizing that there are many women with the necessary qualifications to serve as CEOs of government ministries. This conclusion is self-evident, requiring no further elaboration.