The Washington Post reports that Israel has recently upheld a ruling that allows gender segregation on some buses.

The ruling permits buses servicing communities of ultra-Orthodox Jews to separate men from women, though only if all the passengers agree.

In ultra-Orthodox practice men are not allowed to touch any women except their own wives.  Both women’s rights and human rights groups filed a suit protesting against the law but the court ruled the practice is legal because it’s voluntary.

In the same ultra-Orthodox area two bus routes recently requested that women sit at the back. Women report being verbally abused or assaulted if they refused to move.

At this stage the approval is for a trial period of a year, according to an Israeli court spokeswoman.