Australia joins international call to protect egalitarian worshippers at Western Wall

Australian Zionist and Progressive organisations have written to the Israeli Prime Minister expressing deep concerns about verbal and physical attacks on egalitarian services

The Australian letters follows protests from other international Jewish leaders, who demanded Israel controls extremism, after an attack on egalitarian bar and bat mitzvah services at the Western Wall.

A recent attack on bar and bat mitzvah services prompted US antisemitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt to comment, “Let us make no mistake, had such a hateful incident — such incitement — happened in any other country, there’d be little hesitation in labelling it antisemitism.”

Ultra-Orthodox extremists, most of them children or teenagers, disrupted three bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies at the egalitarian plaza of the Western Wall, shouting, calling the worshipers “Nazis,” “Christians” and “animals,” blowing whistles and ripping up prayer books.

Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler, wrote to Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Friday asking him to provide police protection so all Jews could feel safe at the Western Wall.

Leibler noted Lapid's commitment to governing for all Israelis.

“In that regard, I feel compelled to express to you the deep concern felt by me personally, as well as by the community I represent, about the frequent verbal and physical attacks on people peacefully worshipping, and celebrating Jewish life, at the egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel. I condemn outright those that participated in these attacks, as well as those who condone them, whether explicitly or otherwise.