Diaspora minister vows to continue pushing Western Wall deal amid its reported shelving

Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai responds to The Times of Israel’s report that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana have decided to walk back the government’s plan to implement the long-frozen Western Wall compromise, which would see the formalization of an egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel

“This week marks a half year of the government’s blessed activity. But a government that wants to last is first and foremost advised to learn to respect coalition agreements,” Shai says in a statement.

“The Government of Israel will continue to strive for the implementation of the Western Wall compromise. As long as [the Labor Party] sits in government, we will push for equality for all streams of Judaism.”

“This matter is far from the responsibility of Kahana’s office, and rightly so,” Shai adds. “Have a good week.”