Streisand criticizes treatment of Orthodox Jewish women in Israel

JERUSALEM, June 18 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Barbra Streisand criticized the treatment of women in Israel's Orthodox Jewish community as she accepted an honorary doctorate in Jerusalem.

The actress and director made the remarks Monday after she was presented with a ceremonial degree in philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, E! News said.

"It's distressing to read about women in Israel being forced to sit in the back of a bus or ... having metal chairs hurled at them when they intend to peacefully and legally pray," Streisand said. "Or women being banned from singing in public ceremonies."

Women recently have been protesting for the right to pray alongside men at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site.

"I know that solutions don't come easy," Streisand said. "And they don't in the United States where women are still making 80 cents for every dollar that a man makes."

Streisand is scheduled to perform two concerts in Tel Aviv and will sing at Israeli President Shimon Peres' birthday party during her visit, E! News said.