Israeli court tells police to stop detaining women performing prayer rituals at holy site
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An Israeli court has instructed police to stop detaining women for performing religious rituals that ultra-Orthodox Jews say are reserved for men.
Members of a liberal women's Jewish group have been trying to break the Orthodox monopoly at the Western Wall in Jerusalem by conducting mixed-gender prayer and wearing religious garb.
The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. It is currently divided into men's and women's sections.
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Orthodox rabbis, who control Israel's religious institutions, oppose mixed-gender prayers.
In a ruling on Thursday, a Jerusalem court said the woman were not disturbing the peace with their prayer and saw no justification for detaining them.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently gave preliminary support to a compromise plan to create a new section for mixed-gender prayers.