BICOM

Israel’s Supreme Court yesterday gave the state and associated agencies 30 days to adequately explain why women are not allowed to hold prayer services as they wish at Jerusalem’s Western Wall.

Responding to three similar petitions, the court decided that an arrangement agreed a year ago by the cabinet, to provide a pluralist prayer space south of the Western Wall plaza, does not constitute access to the Western Wall.

The area called for in this arrangement has not yet been constructed, prompting the court to rule yesterday that “no full alternative solution has yet been found” regarding women’s access to the Western Wall.

The court also ruled that within 30 days, state agencies “must explain why the petitioners should not be allowed to pray in accordance with their custom at the traditional plaza, or alternatively allow them to pray in accordance with their custom at a place which has access to the Western Wall”.

The Orthodox-run authorities which administer activity at the Western Wall do not permit women to pray with a Torah scroll at the site.

The court also ruled that the authorities must immediately desist from searching women for Torah scrolls and other religious items it deems inappropriate. Supporters of women’s prayer services have long attempted to hold a mixed-sex prayer services in the women’s section at the Western Wall, which is not permitted under existing regulations and have smuggled Torah scrolls for this purpose.

The emotive issue of women’s and non-Orthodox prayer services at the Western Wall has intensified over recent years. While it is supported by many non-Orthodox Jews, who account for a large segment of Jewish communities across the world, especially outside Israel, it is strongly opposed by Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Ultra-Orthodox Knesset members, plus a handful of Likud and Jewish Home MKs, last month sponsored a bill to ban non-Orthodox public prayer at the Western Wall and fine those who violate regulations.