Disturbances broke out at the Western Wall on Wednesday evening during Women of the Wall prayers marking Rosh Chodesh Av. Police arrested one activist amid the clashes, according to Channel 14.
Clashes broke out at the Western Wall on Wednesday evening as the Women of the Wall group held Rosh Chodesh Av prayers, and police arrested one activist from the group, according to Channel 14. The arrest marks a distinct development from the morning's events, where a protester—not an activist—had been detained after the group brought a Torah scroll into the women's section.
Earlier today (Wed 08:24 Jerusalem), The Zioneer reported a series of incidents at the same site. The initial report described the group as "Women of Provocation" attempting a Reform minyan. Subsequent updates detailed that police removed individuals who had surrounded and shouted at the worshippers, and later confirmed that the group had brought a Torah scroll, leading to a protest and the arrest of one protester. All versions cited Channel 14 as the source. The evening arrest shifts the focus: the detained individual is now a member of the group itself, not a counter-protester.
The Western Wall has been a recurring flashpoint for religious tensions. As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday (Jun 16, 08:43 Jerusalem), a Reform group held a minyan at the site, leading to clashes. The broader context includes confrontations between Haredi worshippers and secular establishments, such as the clashes outside Cafe Basmeta on Shabbat (Jul 11), though these are separate incidents.
What remains open: The specific circumstances of the evening arrest are not yet fully detailed. It is unclear whether the activist was arrested during the prayer itself or in a separate confrontation. The number of participants involved and the reaction of other worshippers remain unconfirmed beyond the initial Channel 14 report.
4 developments
- StrongReform group holds 'minyan' at the Western Wall, clashes with other worshippers
- DevelopingWoman carries Torah scroll and Pride flag at Western Wall, provoking outcry
- StrongThree arrested for assault at the Little Western Wall in Jerusalem
- StrongHaredi protesters clash with police outside Jerusalem's Cafe Basmeta on Shabbat; minor arrested
Source and signal
- Internal intake