American Jews warn Israeli leader of looming 'rupture'

Published June 01, 2016

American Jewish leaders have told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they are deeply disappointed over Israel's failure to carry out a historic agreement to allow non-Orthodox Jewish prayers at a Jerusalem holy site.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, says a delegation told Netanyahu on Wednesday that this is a "serious issue" that could lead to a "rupture" with American Jews.

Israel's Cabinet voted this year to build a new plaza for mixed gender prayer at the Western Wall, adjacent to the current Orthodox prayer plaza. It was viewed as a victory for liberal streams of Judaism, which are dominant in the U.S.

Religious elements in Netanyahu's coalition oppose the plan.

Netanyahu says he remains committed to finding a solution.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/american-jews-warn-israeli-leader-of-looming-rupture