Ultra-Orthodox Push To Scrap Western Wall Deal On Egalitiarian Prayer
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JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Haredi Orthodox parties in Israel’s government have proposed a new resolution that would rescind a government decision to create an official egalitarian section at the Western Wall.
The proposal was approved by the Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinowitz, and would keep in place the egalitarian prayer area erected at Robinson’s Arch, Army Radio reported.
In a statement issued to the media on Sunday, the Women of the Wall called it “outrageous” that the government would consider the proposal, more than a year after approving an agreement for an egalitarian section governed by the liberal Jewish movements.
An agreement passed in January 2016 by the government for an egalitarian prayer section at the Western Wall was negotiated by the Reform and Conservative movements, the Women of the Wall organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government.
Under the agreement, which was approved by the Cabinet, the egalitarian section of the wall near Robinson’s Arch would be expanded and placed under the authority of a pluralist committee. The section would have a common entrance with the rest of the Western Wall plaza. The plan also called for solidifying haredi Orthodox control over the site’s traditional Orthodox section.
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