The dati leumi Bayit Yehudi party is divided regarding the egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel but this is not news in its own right. Perhaps more significant is the coalition crisis that is brewing involving chareidi parties and the Tekuma faction of Bayit Yehudi headed by Minister Uri Ariel.

The story begins with reports that Ariel on Sunday morning 26 Adar-I boycotted the weekly cabinet meeting in an act of protest against the government recognition of the Reform Movement. When he spoke with Israel Radio’s Reshet Bet on Sunday morning, Ariel stated “I am not boycotting the meeting. I checked the day’s agenda and saw nothing pressing as I am touring the Kosel area and then meeting with Gush Katif expellee officials”.

Ariel, who heads the Tekuma faction of Bayit Yehudi, toured the Kosel on Sunday morning accompanied by MK Betzalel Smotrich, who is a member of his faction too.

While Ariel and Smotrich are opposed to the new egalitarian prayer area, others in Bayit Yehudi explain the prayer area at Robinson’s Arch was allocated during the 19th Knesset and in fact, there is nothing new today.

However, Ariel views the situation a bit differently. He explains the area at Robinson’s Arch that was set into place during the 19th Knesset is officially viewed as a tourist area while the new egalitarian prayer area arrangement is a religious site “and this represents a change in the religious status quo” and this is where the problem lies. Ariel questions how the cabinet feels it can create a new reality for a religious site without first consulting the nation’s Chief Rabbis, particularly the location of the Kosel, which is the exclusive responsibility of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He adds that in addition to the latter, the cabinet should not be changing the long-standing religious status quo without consultation with the Chief Rabbis of Israel. This he explains is at the heart of his objections to the cabinet decision.

Reshet Bet:

Where have you been for the past three years [since the area at Robinson’s Arch was allocated by the previous administration]?

Ariel:

I heard about something taking place but I was not consulted. I want not made a part of this process. As I explained, the area was a tourism site and today, a religious site and the cabinet decision includes recognition of the Reform Movement and this is a change in the long-standing religious status quo.

Bennett set up an area, which exists for two years, but it is not approved by the Minister of Religious Services but as a tourist area. The place is not the issue for as you say it exists. The issue is recognition of Reform today, which is a new reality.

NOTE: It is noted that Bayit Yehudi leader Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Reshet Bet earlier on Sunday, expressing his support for the current situation. Clearly the dati leumi party is divided.

Reshet Bet:

Isn’t this discrimination. After all the Reform and Conservative are also entitled to their religious freedom as are the Orthodox?

Ariel:

There other cases of ‘religious discrimination’ as you put it. For example, Arabs may not pray at the Kosel and Jews may not on Har Habayis. This is not a matter of discrimination but respecting long-standing religious practices.

Reshet Bet:

Is there a coalition crisis brewing?

Ariel:

This may lead to a crisis in the coalition. I understand the prime minister has canceled his planned meeting with the Chief Rabbis to permit time to polish up the new proposal.

Reshet Bet:

Why not just give the Reform Jews their place?

Ariel:

This is an area under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate which has ruled certain acts are prohibited. How can we then permit them to do exactly what the Chief Rabbinate has ruled in prohibited?

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)