Israel’s Cabinet approved a plan to increase women’s participation in municipal government.

The Cabinet also put into effect the following recommendations of the Com-mittee to Prevent the Exclusion of Women:

The Civil Service Commission issued directives against the exclusion of women at government and state ceremonies;

The Transportation and Road Safety Ministry opened a hotline to deal with instances of women being excluded on public transportation. The ministry will require transportation companies to post signs saying such exclusions are prohibited;

The Religious Services Ministry will instruct burial societies, the Chief Rabbinate and religious councils to ban keeping women from participating in eulogies and the burial of loved ones.

And the Israel Police will step up enforcement regarding offenses against women. — jta