The wife of an Israeli paratrooper who took over Temple Mount in 1967 (Haram Al Sherif) as well as a male activist for the 'Women of the Wall' organization were both detained on Sunday morning at the Western Wall, although the circumstances behind the incidents are unclear.
The detained man was apparently involved in a confrontation with a young Israeli haredi protestor as the prayer group’s monthly service faced harassment and verbal abuse from Orthodox women protestors throughout their prayers.
The details of the incident are unclear, although the Israeli 'Women of the Wall' stated that the man was attacked and physically harassed by a young haredi boy and when he tried to defend himself the police detained him.
Video footage emerged on Sunday of several Israeli border-police men leading a man away although the video did not show the actual incident.
He was released relatively quickly.
The Israeli police have yet to respond to several requests for comment.
The wife of the paratrooper was allegedly spat on and harassed by a haredi girl who also tried to take her camera, and when the woman tried to stop the girl, she complained to the police that she had been attacked and the police detained the woman.
She was still under detention at 11:30 a.m. according to Women of the Wall.
The police have also yet to respond to request for comment on the second incident, too.
Women of the Wall’s service, as has become the norm, faced persistent and hostile harassment from Orthodox women and girls in the Women’s section throughout their service.
The protestors blew whistles, shouted and verbally harassed the more than 100 women who participated in the Women of the Wall service.
“I hate all of you,” one young girl protesting the service told some of the Women of the Wall worshipers.
“It is forbidden to sing aloud,” a haredi woman told them.
Women of the Wall said that in light of the serial harassment during their monthly prayer services, they “came prepared today with female bodyguards trained in conflict management and de-escalation.”
The organization also accused the police of failing to protect them against the harassment.
“Police stood by and watched without interfering, and Western Wall Heritage Foundation guards instructed WOW to “calm down and focus on your prayers,” said Women of the Wall.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
