Netanyahu Commits To Ending Western Wall Impasse
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told American Reform leaders at a private meeting that he is committed to the deal to create an egalitarian prayer space south of the traditional Western Wall Jewish holy site, Haaretz reported.
Netanyahu promised the delegation headed by Union for Reform Judaism president Rick Jacobs that he would do everything possible to find a solution to the impasse with ultra-Orthodox leaders who oppose the egalitarian site.
Netanyahu spoke for an hour at the meeting, at which the prime minister said he had appointed Tzachi Hanegbi to bridge the gap between the two sides. Hanegbi is a minister at the Prime Minister’s Office who is in charge of national security and foreign affairs.
In January 2016, the Israeli government committed to create a prayer space where men and women could worship equally in an area known as Robinson’s Arch after negotiations with Women of the Wall and other liberal Jewish groups. The plan stalled amid ultra-Orthodox protest and has been in limbo ever since.
Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected]
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO