Protests erupt at Western Wall after Labor MK brings Torah for women to read

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis are protesting at the Western Wall after Labor party MK Gilad Kariv uses his parliamentary immunity to bring a Torah scroll to the Western Wall plaza.

Kariv, an ordained Reform rabbi and director of the Reform movement in Israel, plans to hand it over to the Women of the Wall pro-pluralism group, for use during their prayer service, in violation of policy at the holy site.

In a video statement, Kariv calls for the government to advance an egalitarian plaza at the Western Wall. The plans for such a move were reportedly shelved last year.

“It’s time for those close to Prime Minister [Naftali Bennett] to stop sucking up to the ultra-Orthodox parties,” Kariv says.

At least two people have been detained by police, according to video footage. There is no immediate comment from law enforcement on the matter.

https://twitter.com/kobi_bornshtein/status/1499628387735908353?s=20&t=f1-7LBJ3oV5TCG86r11Ljw

Singing our way into the #kotel for Rosh Chodesh pic.twitter.com/w021MX5bri

— ReformJudaismIsrael (@IsraelReform) March 4, 2022

Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai says on Twitter he is “saddened by scenes from the Western Wall this morning. The situation there is unjust. All Jews deserve a place at this site to pray in accordance with their customs. The Western Wall plan must be implemented.”