By: TPS
About 40 activists from the Woman of the Wall group arrived at the Kotel (Western Wall) plaza on Monday for the Rosh Chodesh (new month) prayers and again clashed with the thousands of orthodox worshippers at the holy site.
The group of activists left the area designated for them, thus violating their commitment to President Isaac Herzog to refrain from clashes, and thus violated public order at the Western Wall plaza.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Idan Shimon approached the Woman of the Wall activists several times and reminded them of their agreement and that they were violating public order and “igniting controversy at the Western Wall plaza.”
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said that the group promised to return to the compound, but did not do so, “with the aim of increasing friction in the plaza.” Furthermore, a group of students joined them and “constantly tried to get into the Orthodox group and cause a commotion.”
Two people, including a minor, were arrested in the clashes.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation “called on both sides” and underscored that the Kotel is “not the place to conduct political struggles. Keep the controversies away from the Western Wall plaza and preserve it as a sacred and unifying place.”
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation issued a second statement expressing sorrow over “the harsh and heated clash,” pointing to the Women of the Wall who “harmed the sanctity of the Western Wall,” when its male activists entered the woman’s section, “and in the introduction of whistles by an Orthodox child, which also harmed sanctity The Western Wall.”
“Enormous efforts are made by the Foundation’s staff to make this event go smoothly and were met by the Women of the Wall not complying with security regulations,” it stated.
“This is a difficult event the must be condemned. Please preserve the sanctity of the Western Wall and keep it away from disgrace and demonstrations,” the Foundation asked.
The Foundation’s director-general addressed Herzog and brought before him the violation of the agreement he had with the Women of the Wall.
The Women of the Wall clash with the Orthodox majority at the holy site on a monthly basis. While there is a designated area for egalitarian prayer, the activists demand to hold their prayer sessions in the midst of the plaza used by the Orthodox majority, which they say harms their religious feelings, thus generating clashes and friction at the site on a monthly basis.
(TPS)
