Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to preserve the status quo at Jerusalem's Western Wall after his ultra-Orthodox coalition allies Shas tabled a bill that would curtail non-Orthodox prayer and criminalize certain behaviors at Judaism's holiest site.
"The status quo at the Western Wall, which is dear to all the people of Israel, will be maintained as it is today," he said.
"Even if the law were to be passed, it would not be passed with criminal penalties on clothing or musical instruments that were written 40 years ago and are not acceptable to anyone."
According to the legislative proposal, arriving at the site in "inappropriate clothing" or playing musical instruments there would carry a six-month prison sentence.