During the Yishuv period women encountered many obstacles when attempting to gain entrance into the National Council, the effective government at the time. The presence of women in the National Council was contested by many in the Ultra-orthodox camp, who did not believe that women should have the ability to vote, let alone serve in positions of authority. Although one woman, Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi was eventually allowed to participate in the first National Council of 1920, she was not allowed to be an equal representative, and was only given the status of a deputy. Despite her lesser status and the continuous resistance of the ultra-Orthodox, Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi played an important role on the council.