Stormy Knesset Hearing Erupts Over Western Wall Law 

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee held another stormy hearing Monday on MK Avi Maoz’s proposed Western Wall bill, which seeks to anchor the Chief Rabbinate’s exclusive authority over the site and limit High Court intervention.

The bill, sponsored by the Noam party chairman, is being prepared for its first reading. Supporters say it is intended to preserve the holiness and traditional character of the Western Wall, while opponents argue it would deepen state control over religious practice at one of Judaism’s most sensitive sites.

The hearing included representatives of public organizations and Diaspora Jewish groups who backed the legislation and called for maintaining the Wall’s halachic status quo. The discussion was repeatedly interrupted by clashes involving opposition MKs and activists associated with Women of the Wall.

Nechemia Malinowitz, a member of the World Zionist Organization executive, rejected claims that Diaspora Jewry broadly opposes the bill, saying many Jews abroad support preserving the Wall according to Jewish tradition.

Esther Jacobs of the Zionist General Council also emphasized the deep connection of Diaspora Jewry to the Western Wall and said many Jewish women abroad value maintaining the site’s traditional character.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv sharply criticized Women of the Wall, accusing the group of deliberate provocation and harm to Jewish tradition. Former Jerusalem city council member Mina Fenton, who said she has prayed at the Wall on Rosh Chodesh since 1992, argued that Women of the Wall have harmed regular female worshippers and tried to change the site’s Jewish character.

MK Avichai Boaron praised Maoz for advancing the bill, saying there is “one tradition of Israel” that should not be altered.

Maoz said at the end of the hearing that the Western Wall is “the beating heart of the Jewish people” and must be preserved according to Jewish law and tradition.

“It is time to stop the attempts to turn the Western Wall into an arena of provocations, anchor the holiness of the place in law for generations and block High Court intervention,” Maoz said.