Israel to expand Western Wall prayer area for non-Orthodox Jewish worshippers

Palestine

Published: 2018-08-27 12:31

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 22:50


Some people opposed the expansion plans. (History.com)
Some people opposed the expansion plans. (History.com)

Israel is planning on extending the “mixed gender prayer area” at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressured the Israeli municipality to expand the prayer area after facing pressure from non-Orthodox Jewish groups, whom his government failed to grant greater rights at the Wall.

The expansion was initially opposed by the municipality’s legal advisor, however, he withdrew his opposition last week after pressure from Netanyahu’s office.

Netanyahu’s office argued that “authorities can expand buildings to help people with special needs without first obtaining building approvals,” the Palestine News Network reported.

The government plans on not only expanding the mixed area but the road leading to it, in addition to installing transit supplies for people with special needs, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Orthodox Jews forbid the mixing of men and women during prayers, which is why the government established a square called “Ezrat Israel” to allow other Jewish worshippers, who don’t believe in separating the two genders, to pray together.

Some people have opposed the expansion plans.

Concerned archaeologists appealed to the High Court of Justice, noting that permanent damage would be caused if the “illegal” restoration works were to take place.

Dr. Yizhar Hess, the head of Israel’s Masorti (Conservative) Movement, had his doubts about the way the expansion was approved, despite welcoming the decision.

This is far from what was agreed upon in the Western Wall deal and I must say I would be more content if this was done more formally,” he said. “This special permission gives us a bit of a feeling of thieves in the night.”

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel is recognized by law as the supreme rabbinic and spiritual authority for Judaism in Israel, and Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel said that he should not have been bypassed by Netanyahu’s office in this incident.

“The argument about who has the authority in the Western wall, and it’s not the prime minister’s office, it’s the Chief Rabbinate,” he said.

“Can the prime minister bypass the defence minister in things under his purview? The prime minister needs to follow the rules.”