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WORLD NEWS Monday 26 June 2017

In about face, Israel freezes Western Wall mixed prayer plan

By ARON HELLER dox monopoly over con- based Rabbinical Assem-
Associated Press versions. bly, an association for
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Is- It set off a cascade of criti- Conservative movement
raeli government froze a cism from liberal groups rabbis, said the decision
long-overdue plan Sunday both in Israel and abroad. was not surprising given the
to open a mixed-gender “I’m outraged by this gov- clout of ultra-Orthodox par-
prayer area at Jerusalem’s ernment decision. I think it ties yet shocking nonethe-
Western Wall, a major pol- shows cowardice. For two less for its divisive message.
icy reversal that infuriated years we negotiated in Still, she said it would not af-
the liberal streams of Ju- good faith with the govern- fect her devotion to Israel.
daism that represent most ment,” said Anat Hoffman, “The people of Israel still
Jews in the United States. chair of the Women of need our support and our
Israel had approved the the Wall group, which has love and the fact that an
plan in January 2016 to offi- pushed for egalitarian ac- unbelievably, spectacu-
cially recognize the special cess to the wall. “And then larly shortsighted govern-
prayer area at the West- today they decide that it is ment cannot see its way In this May 24, 2017 file photo, Jewish men pray at the Western
ern Wall — the holiest site null and void, that they’re to understand the criti- Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, in Jerusalem’s Old
where Jews can pray — a not going to implement it, cal importance of unity of City, during Jerusalem Day celebrations.
compromise reached af- that equality is out the win- world Jewry is something Associated Press
ter years of negotiations dow.” that is the fault of the poli- Court to implement the sists any inroads from liber-
between liberal Israeli and Earlier in the day, her group ticians,” she said. “Israel is decision and still hold out als it often considers to be
American Jewish groups held its weekly prayers at turning its back on the in- hope it will overturn it. second-class Jews who or-
and the Israeli authorities. the site and was harassed stitutions through which we Ultra-Orthodox rabbis strict- dain women and gays and
It was seen as a significant by ultra-Orthodox worship- love Israel.” The liberal Jew- ly govern Jewish practices are overly inclusive toward
breakthrough in promoting pers. American Jews, who ish groups had accused in Israel such as weddings, converts and interfaith
religious pluralism in Israel, have long lamented Israel Netanyahu of delaying divorces and burials. The marriages. Arieh Deri, head
where the ultra-Orthodox should be as accepting implementation because ultra-Orthodox religious of the ultra-Orthodox Shas
authorities govern almost of their religious practices of pressure from the two establishment sees itself party, said he was pleased
every facet of Jewish life. as they are of their finan- ultra-Orthodox parties that as responsible for main- the government blocked
But the program was never cial and political support, keep his narrow coalition taining traditions through a plan that would have
implemented as powerful have been pushing for the afloat. They have already centuries of persecution harmed the “sanctity of the
ultra-Orthodox members of new prayer area and had petitioned Israel’s Supreme and assimilation, and it re- site.”q
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- warned that if the deal did
tanyahu’s coalition govern- not go through it would
ment raised objections to lead to a dangerous rup-
the decision after they had ture with North American
initially endorsed it. Under Jewry.
ultra-Orthodox manage- Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the
ment, the wall is currently President of the Union for
separated between men’s Reform Judaism, the larg-
and women’s prayer sec- est stream of Judaism in
tions. the United States, said the
Netanyahu, trying to pla- decision could lead many
cate both his coalition part- to rethink their support for
ners and wealthy American Israel.
Jewish donors, had prom- “There is a limit to how
ised the new $9 million pla- many times you can be
za for mixed-gender prayer delegitimized and insult-
would be established. ed,” he said. “This is the
On Sunday, he ordered top core mission of the Jewish
aides to formulate a new state — to be a home for all
plan but said little more. In Jews ... it is unthinkable but
another controversial de- the unthinkable just hap-
cision Sunday, his govern- pened.”
ment promoted a bill to Rabbi Julie Schonfeld,
maintain the ultra-Ortho- head of the New York- P.O. Box 71