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Israeli government defends backtrack on egalitarian prayer plan at the Kotel

The Israeli government has justified a decision not to implement a compromise agreed with non-Orthodox Jewish movements over the Western Wall

September 20, 2017 08:54
Photo; Hila Shiloni
1 min read

The Israeli government has justified its decision not to implement a plan to upgrade the egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Israel’s Supreme Court had ordered the government to respond to a request to reconsider its suspension of the plan which had been announced early last year.

The proposal was to expand the egalitarian prayer compound at the southern end of the Kotel, linking to the main plaza and placing it jointly under the supervision of the Reform and Masorti movements.

But under pressure from Orthodox politicians in the coalition, the government retreated from the plan - although it has indicated it will make some improvement to the egalitarian facility which is currently separated from the main plaza.