Sharansky works out deal for Women of the Wall

It is Rosh Chodesh and that means excitement at the Kotel. Not just the excitement of the large crowds coming to pray and visit especially because of Rosh Chodesh, and of course the increase in visitors due to the great weather, but also the monthly excitement with the Women of the Wall going to the Kotel to pray, with tallitot, and some of the Haredim in the area fighting with the WoW, and the police stepping in and arresting people, mostly women in tallit.

That excitement might be coming to an end. Natan Sharansky was appointed to head a task force to find a solution and to put an end to the monthly fighting. Sharansky's recommendation is basically to further divide the Kotel area to three instead of the current two sections. Basically, there will be an Orthodox mens section, and Orthodox womens section, and an egalitarian section. the egalitarian section will be further south, near Robinsons Arch. Sharansky's recommendation also includes expanding both the Kotel plaza and the area surrounding Robinsons Arch.

While this tentatively looks like it will be agreed upon, I dont see why this will work. The Women fo the Wall are already allowed to do their thing at the area of Robinsons Arch, and they don't like it - that is how it became a fight near the Kotel. Being sent down south, they say, makes them feel like they are being made to sit in the back of the bus, so to speak. They do not consider it a fair division. It is true that until now they had to pay to enter that area, like any tourist, and according to the Sharansky deal they will not need to, but I do not believe that is what the fight hinged upon.

Either way, if they are satisfied, that is fine by me even if it does not make sense to me. My one question is that expansion of the areas, as well as making the third area suitable for regular services, is going to take a lot of time and money. Even if they move ahead at full speed, it will take many months if not years. What arrangements are going to be put in place until the Robinsons Arch area is ready for use? Will the fights continue until the area is ready? Will they promise to back down until that time in light of the agreement?

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