Councillor criticises topless salon in Tel Aviv

A men-only beauty salon in Tel Aviv staffed entirely by topless women has provoked demonstrations and criticism from a city councillor.

Women wearing nothing but thongs will staff the salon (file picture)

Dozens of women’s rights activists with placards have been protesting outside the Red Puma.

The salon offers male manicures, pedicures and haircuts – while staff wear nothing but thongs.
Tel Aviv councillor Yael Ben Yefet said the demonstrators were specifically protesting against the use of women as sexual objects - saying the salon was 'degrading'.
'The message we have come to put across today is that women and their bodies are not objects,' she said.
'We must stop the shameless and degrading use of women for such aims.'
Ms Ben Yefet added that men being treated by naked women 'constitutes violence'.
'The question of whether they agreed to work in this way is entirely irrelevant,' she added.
Protesters carrying placards were, unsurprisingly, refused entry, so took to standing on a nearby street to show their opposition to the salon.

Signs were also hung around the door to the premises.
The salon owners claim to have been surprised at the level of interest being shown by the media and the public in their establishment.