Yesterday, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) released the following statement on the Israeli government's decision to withdraw from an agreement over the creation of an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall:

“The Israeli government’s decision to withdraw from an agreement to create a space at the Kotel for all Jews to pray should disappoint everyone who extols Israel as a champion of religious freedom and a model of pluralism.  The bond between the United States and Israel is in no small part due to our shared belief in a core set of common values – freedom of expression, inclusion, and democratic participation.  Not only does the government’s decision contradict these values, it sends a message to Jews in the United States that their views and practices have no place at Judaism’s holiest site.  I believe that we should continue to strongly support Israel despite this decision, and we should fight this decision despite our strong support for Israel.  But I am deeply concerned by trends showing young American Jews’ dwindling levels of support for and identification with the State of Israel, and I worry that this decision by the Israeli government will only affirm suspicions that their voices and perspectives have been deemed irrelevant.  I hope that this does not reflect how the majority of American Jews are viewed by the State of Israel, and strongly urge Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to reconsider their decision.”