JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel's Religious Affairs Ministry arranged to have separate walking paths for men and women who are taking part in the traditional pilgrimage to Mount Miron to hold bonfires during today's Lag B'Omer festival.

Legislator Naomi Chazan of the secular Meretz Party protested the move, which was prompted by the spiritual leader of the fervently religious Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, according to the Israeli daily Ma'ariv.