The victory of the hawk worshippers: As part of the preparations for the Pope's visit to the Western Wall in about two weeks, the police and Shin Bet requested that the Western Wall plaza be closed to worshippers starting at night.
The Pope is expected to visit the Western Wall on Monday morning, as part of his visit to Israel, and due to security arrangements, the police were asked to prevent worshipers from entering on Sunday. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Places, strongly opposed it, claiming that the established minyan of veterans at the Western Wall, where people have been praying regularly for more than 45 years, cannot be canceled.
After discussions in the police and Shin Bet, it was decided to comply with the demand and postpone the Pope's arrival at the Western Wall by an hour, and allow the regular minyan of veterans to pray as usual. Only after the end of the prayer will the Western Wall plaza be cleared of worshippers, and all necessary security arrangements will be made.
In addition, they reached an agreement that the entry of Jews would not be completely stopped, and that worshipers would be able to enter through the Wilson Arch and pray in the tunnels, as on Monday, Torah Reading Day, dozens of Bnei Mitzvahs celebrate their entrance into the Torah at the Western Wall.
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