The municipality of Arad has recently issued a demand to the local mall to stop removing images of women, following the mall's acquisition by the Gur Hasidim community. In a letter to the mall's management, the municipality stated that the removal of 'any female representation from the mall's trading areas' was observed, which prompted a legal warning. The municipality emphasized that if this violation of law and discrimination against women continues, they are prepared to take measures, including potentially shutting down the mall.

The city's legal advisor, Chaim Shiman, labeled the directive to remove images of women as 'serious, unacceptable, and illegal.' He noted that such orders directly impact human dignity and gender equality, further endangering the social fabric of the country and particularly of Arad, a secular and liberal city. Shiman's letter condemned the systematic erasure of women from public spaces as not merely a cultural phenomenon but as prohibited discrimination against half the population.

Shiman clarified that the mall constitutes a public space and is in no position to impose gender censorship that harms a significant segment of society. He argued that actions normalizing the absence of women from public representation reflect extreme beliefs that conflict with the foundational values of Israeli society. The municipality's firm stance highlights ongoing tensions in Israel regarding gender representation and the cultural implications of certain groups' influence in public life.