Israel should make “greater efforts … to implement the Western Wall agreement,” Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein tells American Jewish leaders, referring to a deal to expand a pluralistic prayer area that has been canceled by the government.
The move “would make our holy site a true symbol of Jewish unity,” Edelstein tells the leaders from the Jewish Federations General Assembly, garnering a round of applause.
Netanyahu’s decision to cancel the deal under ultra-Orthodox pressure last year has led to a significant rift between his government and Diaspora Jewry.
But Edelstein says Diaspora Jews “need to do more” to help overcome the current crisis with Israel.
Yuli Edelstein speaking to American Jewish leaders at the Knesset on October 23, 2018. (Knesset)
The Knesset speaker, at a dinner at the Israeli parliament, also says rumors of the death of Israeli democracy are greatly exaggerated, referring to criticism of certain laws recent passed in the Israeli parliament.
“Israeli democracy has been strong, is strong and will be even stronger. Nothing, no piece of legislation and no other move, will ever create second-class citizens in this country,” he says, presumably referring to the nation-state law.
“The Knesset is and will remains a beacon of democracy, and a commitment to this is shared by all factions on this parliament,” he says.
— Raphael Ahren
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
