Religion
Related: About this forumKotel compromise notwithstanding, Israel facing uphill battle over religious pluralism
By Ben Sales · April 16, 2013
JERUSALEM (JTA) Natan Sharanskys proposal last week to expand the space for non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall could be historic.
But for most Israelis, changes at the Western Wall are of only trivial interest. Far more pressing are state restrictions on marriage and conversion, Sabbath bans on public transit, and haredi Orthodox exemptions from Israels mandatory draft.
The haredi draft exemption was a central issue in Januarys elections for the Knesset, and it has been a hot topic of debate for the last year or so. A comprehensive bill is now in the works to draft haredi men, providing financial incentives to those who enlist and penalizing those who dont.
A few political parties -- notably the large, centrist Yesh Atid -- have promised reforms on marriage, conversion and public transportation, too. But with the governments coalition agreement giving each party veto power over any change in the states religious policy, sweeping changes on marriage and conversion are unlikely because the nationalist Jewish Home party is unlikely to approve such reforms.
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/04/16/3124306/kotel-compromise-notwithstanding-uphill-battle-in-israel-for-religious-pluralism-issues
pinto
(106,886 posts)I'm very unfamiliar with Israeli political / religious issues.
rug
(82,333 posts)It refers to a plan to give wider access to it.
http://us.shalomlife.com/news/19107/sharansky-calls-for-a-kotel-compromise/
OT but here's the Kotelcam:
http://english.thekotel.org/cameras.asp