The High Court of Justice ruled today (Sunday) that the number of worshippers allowed in the Western Wall plaza will be increased to 100 people at any given time \u2013 instead of 50 so far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision, which took effect immediately, was made as part of a discussion of petitions demanding to expand the scope of prayers at the Western Wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside the decision, the High Court of Justice issued a conditional order against the state, the Home Front Command, and the police - demanding an explanation as to why a systematic policy regarding defense at holy sites will not be formulated, which would balance security needs with the right to freedom of religion and worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The judges ruled that, despite the update on the number of worshippers, the principled discussion on the issue has not yet been exhausted - and therefore another hearing has been scheduled for this coming Thursday. The state will be required to submit its response by then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The petition that was filed sought to allow broader prayers, including the Priestly Blessing, and to equalize the conditions with those granted to demonstrations. Although the court noted that the petition was filed belatedly and without exhausting procedures, it chose to hear it due to the sensitivity of the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the discussion, the question arose as to why the Western Wall tunnels were not used as a protected space, but state representatives clarified that the Home Front Command's position was that this was a serious danger: "A death trap... fear of the collapse and collapse that could cause a major disaster.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In their decision, the judges determined that in addition to increasing the quota to 100 worshippers, continuous entry of groups should be allowed throughout the day - so that in practice thousands of worshippers can arrive daily, in accordance with security guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The petition was filed following the decision made by the High Court of Justice in the middle of the Sabbath, which authorized the holding of mass demonstrations in Habima Square in Tel Aviv, which aroused great anger among the Haredi public against what was perceived as "anywhere and anywhere.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the hearing, Judge Yitzhak Amit said: "Clearly, it's all a matter of balance. I watched the live broadcast of the Priests' Blessing, and it was embarrassing to see the Western Wall, the bird of the soul of the Jewish people, standing empty.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the judge qualified the point and said that the operational differences between the protection in the Habima parking lot and the open Western Wall plaza must be examined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The police presented a plan at the hearing that would allow groups of 150 worshippers to enter at the same time, with a commitment to rapid evacuation when an alarm is sounded. The plan was backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, despite his reservations about holding gatherings at this time - for demonstrations and prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, representatives of the Home Front Command presented a tougher position. They claim that, in light of the fact that there are only two protected spaces in the Western Wall area that can accommodate a few dozen people, it is not possible to authorize the entry of more than 100 worshipers at any given moment. The goal is to ensure that everyone in the area can reach shelter within the short warning time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minister of National Security unexpectedly entered the discussion and said: "I am coming here because I understood that the prosecution did not convey my words to the court. I think it is a serious mistake to allow both demonstrations and prayers, and I have thought and am thinking and calling on the public not to come, not to the demonstrations, not to the Western Wall, not to the Temple Mount during the war.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\""At the same time," he added, "in light of the fact that the court ruled as it did, I don't see how I can discriminate between blood and blood, between law and law. If you allow demonstrations in Kaplan, I repeat again, it's your mistake, if you allow this, there is no choice but to also allow prayers on the Temple Mount and prayers at the Western Wall. Just as they will demonstrate against the war in Kaplan, they should be allowed to pray for IDF soldiers on the Temple Mount and at the Western Wall.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the speech, Minister Ben Gvir addressed the representatives of the Attorney General's Office: "Last time you do something like this... I told you what my position is. It is impossible that you will not present it to the court.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Political commentator Amit Segal attacked the High Court: "What we see here is a classic case in which the High Court tries to correct one gross mistake with another gross mistake. Suddenly they remembered freedom of prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\""Suddenly Amit remembered that this is a scandal that there is no greater priestly blessing. It has been known for years that the issue has been burning in his heart. It is fortunate that he restrained himself from making a decision on a holy Sabbath.".<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u05d1\u05d2\"\u05e5 \u05d1\u05d4\u05d7\u05dc\u05d8\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05e2\u05ea\u05d9\u05e8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05d4\u05d2\u05d1\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05e2\u05dc \u05ea\u05e4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d1\u05db\u05d5\u05ea\u05dc \u05d4\u05de\u05e2\u05e8\u05d1\u05d9\u00a0\u2022 \u05d4\u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05d5\u05e8\u05d5 \u05dc\u05de\u05d3\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e0\u05de\u05e7 \u05de\u05d3\u05d5\u05e2 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05ea\u05d2\u05d5\u05d1\u05e9 \u05de\u05d3\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05d0\u05d5\u05d6\u05e0\u05ea \u05e9\u05ea\u05d0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e8 \u05ea\u05e4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d4\u05e4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u2022 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05e0\u05d5\u05e1\u05e3 \u05e0\u05e7\u05d1\u05e2 \u05dc\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05e9\u05d9 \u2022\u00a0\u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05d8\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05d2\u05d4 \u05de\u05ea\u05d5\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d4\u05de\u05d0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e8 \u05db\u05e0\u05d9\u05e1\u05ea \u05e7\u05d1\u05d5\u05e6\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea 150 \u05de\u05ea\u05e4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d5-\u05d6\u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05ea \u2022 \u05de\u05e0\u05d2\u05d3, \u05e4\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05e8\u05e3 \u05d8\u05d5\u05e2\u05df \u05db\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e0\u05d9\u05ea\u05df \u05dc\u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05db\u05e0\u05d9\u05e1\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d9\u05d5\u05ea\u05e8 \u05de-100 \u05de\u05ea\u05e4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":1057513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1057512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n