MK Avi Maoz Blasts Coalition Over Delays in Western Wall Law Advancement

MK Avi Maoz, leader of the Noam party, sharply criticized the Israeli coalition and ultra-Orthodox parties for delaying the advancement of the "Western Wall Law," which recently passed a preliminary reading. Maoz accused coalition members, including MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Constitution Committee, of intentionally stalling the bill's progress in committee. He urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox leaders to reverse their previous support for the Western Wall arrangement, which Maoz claims unfairly grants the Reform movement access to the Western Wall Plaza.

Maoz highlighted that although ultra-Orthodox parties opposed the arrangement initially, they did not threaten to topple the government until pressured by criticism within the Haredi media. He also criticized Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and MK Rothman, calling them political heirs of Naftali Bennett, who originally promoted the arrangement, and said they bear responsibility to rectify the situation.

With the Knesset heading into a two-week election recess, Maoz warned that Reform activists are expected to continue their monthly provocations at the Western Wall with backing from the Supreme Court. He questioned how the government could enter an election campaign while being responsible for what he termed "the desecration of the sanctity of the Western Wall" through cooperation with the Reform movement and the court.

The Western Wall Law aims to grant exclusive authority to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to define what constitutes desecration at Jewish holy sites, limiting the Supreme Court's involvement in these matters. The bill passed its preliminary reading about six weeks ago but has since been delayed in committee, prompting Maoz's public outcry.