Labor chief implies Israel misled Diaspora Jews on Western Wall deal

The head of Israel’s Labor party, Avi Gabbay, this week accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of misleading Diaspora Jews about the highly contested Western Wall compromise agreement, The Times of Israel learns.

On Tuesday, Gabbay told the Jewish Agency Board of Governors the government never intended to implement the hard-fought deal that would see a plaza for a egalitarian worship built at the Orthodox-run holy site.

“I was a minister in this government when the Kotel [Western Wall] compromise was approved,” Gabbay said in remarks delivered in English. “I was very pleased when the plan was accepted by the Kotel chief rabbi, the cabinet secretary and the Reform movement.

“I mean, everyone accepted it, and I remember saying to myself in that meeting: what a great achievement, uniting the Jewish people around a place like the Kotel,” Gabbay said.

“But to my regret, the joy did not last long,” he added. “After the government approved the compromise deal, a senior minister sitting next to me said: ‘Avi, don’t celebrate, it just won’t happen.’”