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Western Wall compromise

Yizhar Hess, a World Zionist Organization vice chairman and senior representative of the Masorti/Conservative Judaism (left), discusses with an ultra-Orthodox worshipper at the Western Wall in an undated picture. (Courtesy)
May 12, 2026, 2:23 am
Divisive bill barring non-Orthodox practices at Western Wall back on Knesset agenda
Legislation would give chief rabbis ultimate authority at holiest site for Jewish prayer, could see non-Orthodox worship branded as ‘desecration,’ carrying 7-year jail term
By Rossella Tercatin
A boy reads from the Torah as part of his bar mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall's egalitarian section in Jerusalem on November 17, 2022. (Egalitarian section/Facebook)
February 26, 2026, 11:09 pm
Progressive Jews sound alarm over bill cementing Orthodox control of Western Wall
Diaspora leaders warn criminalizing non-Orthodox prayer at the Wall will exclude many from Judaism’s holiest site, violate World Zionist Organization resolutions
By Zev Stub
A Valar Atomics microreactor is seen on a C-17 aircraft, without nuclear fuel, at March Air Reserve Base, California, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Daly)
February 26, 2026, 3:57 pm
Daily Briefing Feb. 26 – Nuke talks resume even as US F-22s crowd Israeli skies
Editor David Horovitz on Bollywood-level antics at the Knesset during PM Modi’s visit and a new bill to tamp down egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and David Horovitz
Conservative rabbis pray at the Ezrat Yisrael egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, December 12, 2024. (Courtesy/ File)
February 25, 2026, 4:28 pm
MKs approve preliminary bill cementing Orthodox control over entire Western Wall
Haredim praise bill giving Chief Rabbinate authority over prayer at Old City site, calling it victory over Reform Movement; progressives say Israel turning back on non-Orthodox, Diaspora
By Sam Sokol
Conservative rabbis pray at the Ezrat Yisrael egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, December 12, 2024. (Courtesy/ File)
February 22, 2026, 8:01 pm
Netanyahu nixes ministerial vote on bill cementing Orthodox control of Western Wall
Justice minister calls on MKs to vote in favor, coalition whip receives PM’s permission to give MKs freedom to vote freely on the controversial legislation
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
A tourist walks on the temporary egalitarian prayer platform, built in 2013 in Jerusalem's Old City Davidson Archeology Park, as seen on April 12, 2016. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)
February 18, 2026, 12:25 am
Local and state government trade blame over delays upgrading Western Wall egalitarian plaza
High Court of Justice holds hearing on status of religious right at Jerusalem’s holy site for first time in years, demands answers on why 2017 directive by PM not yet implemented
By Rossella Tercatin
A boy celebrates his bar mitzvah on the egalitarian Ezrat Israel plaza near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel on June 19, 2023. (Courtesy of the Masorti Movement in Israel)
February 17, 2026, 8:21 am
High Court to hold hearing on Western Wall egalitarian services for first time in years
Liberal Jewish groups seek to ensure full rights for egalitarian prayers despite ultra-Orthodox opposition, long after government nixed compromise on the matter
By Rossella Tercatin
The mixed prayer area outside the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem's Old City on August 25, 2013. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 17, 2023, 2:40 am
US urges Israel to advance frozen deal for Western Wall egalitarian space
Diplomat’s tweet appears to be first time Biden administration weighs in on issue, which has been major source of tension in Israel-Disaspora ties
By Jacob Magid
A view of the egalitarian plaza, often referred to as 'Robinson's Arch,' at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on December 30, 2021. (Amy Spiro/Times of Israel)
February 17, 2023, 12:50 am
Government tells High Court it still plans to improve Western Wall egalitarian plaza
Responding to multiple court petitions, state says it is working to implement long-stalled, six-year-old cabinet decision, angering both liberal and conservative groups
By Judah Ari Gross
Labor MK and Reform Rabbi Gilad Kariv holds up a Torah scroll in the women's section of the Western Wall on December 25, 2022. (Hila Shiloni/Women of the Wall)
December 25, 2022, 11:32 am
Reform rabbi MK brings Torah scroll to women’s section of Western Wall, drawing ire
Labor lawmaker Kariv defends his move, which comes as ultra-Orthodox parties seek to outlaw female-led services at the Jerusalem holy site
By Judah Ari Gross
Then Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai attends the Jewish People's Lobby, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on November 15, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 24, 2022, 1:39 pm
Diaspora minister: ‘Not implementing Western Wall compromise was a historic failure’
As he prepares to leave office, Nachman Shai tells ToI he’s proud to have restarted dialogue between Israel and US Jewry, sees Netanyahu as the only hope for maintaining these ties
By Judah Ari Gross
A view of the egalitarian plaza, often referred to as 'Robinson's Arch,' at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on December 30, 2021. (Amy Spiro/Times of Israel)
November 6, 2022, 4:35 pm
Jewish Agency: Police will be deployed to guard Western Wall’s egalitarian section
Organization says it’s working to improve security at Jerusalem Old City’s ‘Ezrat Yisrael’ prayer site and better explain its importance to Israelis after disruptions this summer
By Judah Ari Gross
Egyptian Ambassador to the UN Osama Abdel Khalek addresses the Security Council on August 8, 2022. (Screen capture/UN TV)
August 11, 2022, 1:58 pm
Daily Briefing Aug. 11: Egypt huffs at Israel; Jewish Agency laments Russian moves
US correspondent Jacob Magid on tension at the UN Security Council, plus Ilhan Omar; religion writer Judah Ari Gross on Tisha B’av, plus the Jewish Agency under threat in Russia
By ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox youths interrupt a bar mitzvah ceremony at the egalitarian section of the Western Wall on June 30, 2022. (Laura Ben-David)
August 5, 2022, 6:41 am
Tisha B’Av at Western Wall to test how serious Lapid is about religious pluralism
After zealots overran egalitarian prayers, PM stressed non-Orthodox Jews’ right to worship at site, but that will only be proven if cops quash such interruptions on Saturday night
By Judah Ari Gross
Seth Mann, left, reads from a Torah scroll during his bar mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall's egalitarian section on June 30, 2022. (Courtesy/Mann family)
July 18, 2022, 10:02 pm
Lapid phones American boy whose Western Wall bar mitzvah was overrun by zealots
PM tells Seth Mann that the violent protests against his ceremony were ‘outrageous’ and didn’t represent Israel; family says they were encouraged by the premier’s call
By Judah Ari Gross
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