Deri accuses High Court of trying to ‘desecrate’ Western Wall

Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri accuses the High Court of Justice of trying to “desecrate” the Western Wall after it instructed the government to move forward with completing processes to restore and upgrade the Western Wall egalitarian plaza.

“The entire Jewish people demand to pray at the Western Wall as has been tradition for generations. This is clearly seen in all the mass prayers held during the month of Elul and throughout the year. Religious and secular, adults and youth come to the Western Wall and pray with respect for the local tradition,” Deri says in a statement.

“The High Court has no authority to change the nature of prayer at the Western Wall! The only authority in the place is that of the Chief Rabbinate. There will be no Reform prayer area at the Western Wall,” he says, adding his party will submit a bill to the Knesset to “protect the sanctity” of the site.