The chairman of the Knesset Interior Committee, Likud MK David Amsellem, surprised many when he called for the abolition of the cabinet-approved plan for an egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel.  Amsellem and some of the committee’s members on Tuesday, 7 Cheshvan were given a tour of the area, accompanied by representatives of Reform and Conservative Jewry. This is why the chareidi members of the committee did not participate, not wishing to be part of an event that includes Reform and Conservative officials.

The Hiddush organization, with roots to the Reform Movement, lashed out at Amsellem for his statement, issuing the following statement.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu must not continue tolerating such contempt for (and humiliation of) Diaspora Jewry and the largest Jewish religious streams at the hands of those who serve in his Government Coalition.

“Hiddush strongly rejects the words of Interior Committee Chairman MK David Amsalem (Likud) who declared that “With all due respect to the Americans and American Jews, they cannot be influencing what goes on here. Let them get insulted if they want. There’s nothing wrong with that;” while voicing his opposition to the Government’s very own Western Wall Agreement, made in partnership with the Reform and Conservative movements, and the Women of the Wall.

“MK Amsalem’s brazenly contemptuous attitude towards US Jewry denies the unique, special bond between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel – one which embraces the identity of Israel as the national home of the Jewish people. Indeed, Amsalem’s words undermine the strategic interests of the State, which turns regularly to American Jewry for financial and political support – while spitting in their faces and rejecting the validity of their Jewish identities.

“The Prime Minister himself committed very publicly to ‘ensuring that all Jews – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox – feel at home in Israel’ at the 2015 General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington, DC. Given this, Netanyahu must demand that the members of his Likud Party and his Coalition Government cease laying destructive mines along the delicate bridge that joins Israel and Diaspora Jewry. Else, PM Netanyahu clearly stands guilty of doublespeak, and is actually supportive of the missiles being launched by his Government at the Jewish communities of the Diaspora”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)