Gantz rips Shas bill: ‘No Jew has ownership’ over Western Wall

More opposition lawmakers rip the Shas party’s proposal to sharply restrict non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall, with penalties that include prison time or a fine.

“No Jew, from any stream, has ownership over the most holy place to the Jewish people,” former defense minister Benny Gantz, who heads the National Unity party, writes on Twitter.

The Western Wall is the holiest place Jews are allowed to pray, though not technically the holiest place, which is the Temple Mount.

“The Western Wall belongs to everyone — religious and secular, right and left, and we must safeguard it as a place that unites all parts of the nation,” he adds.

He also calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block the proposal: “Put politics aside at out holiest side. Don’t tear away the Western Wall from the Jewish people.”

National Unity MK Ze’ev Elkin says to Shas: “Have you lost it?”