Israel's parliament moves toward ban on mixed-gender prayer at Jerusalem's Western Wall

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill that would put the country’s Orthodox chief rabbinate in charge of the entire Western Wall in Jerusalem, raising fears among liberal Jews that mixed-gender prayer at the site will soon be outlawed.

The bill, if approved, threatens to further strain relations between Israel and the Reform movement, the largest stream of Judaism in the United States.

The Western Wall is the holiest site in the world where Jews can pray. While its gleaming main plaza is under the supervision of the rabbinate and prayer there is segregated, the site also has an egalitarian section, far off to the side, where men and women can pray together.

Under the bill, any prayer at the wall that runs contrary to the chief rabbinate’s specifications would be deemed “desecration,” punishable by up to seven years in prison. That could mean spell the end of the wall’s egalitarian section.

“It’s criminalizing the way the vast majority of Jews pray in the heart of the holiest site of the capital of the Jewish state,” said Orly Erez-Likhovski, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center, the social justice arm of Israel’s Reform movement.

The Reform movement is the largest denomination of organized Jewry in the United States. But in Israel, it has a small presence and the Orthodox rabbinate wields a near monopoly over religious affairs such as weddings and burials.

“Wherever ultra-Orthodox have the upper hand or have control, they’re trying to force gender segregation. They are trying to make women disappear,” said Erez-Likhovski.

Her organization is representing the Reform movement as well as the smaller Conservative movement and the “ Women of the Wall ” — a group that campaigns for gender equality at the site — in a battle at the Israeli Supreme Court to push the government to preserve and repair the egalitarian section.

The section itself is largely out of view and accessible only through a small doorway.

Once inside, visitors are blocked from touching the ancient stones by a warren of grates left there after 2018, when a massive stone dislodged from the wall and toppled onto the prayer platform, prompting its immediate closure.

It is a stark contrast to the wall’s iconic esplanade, replete with plaques from generous donors, where buzzing devotees segregate to pray by the Wall’s ancient stones.

The bill, sponsored by far-right lawmaker Avi Maoz, was passed in a preliminary reading late Wednesday 56-47.

It was brought to the preliminary vote Wednesday to mitigate a Feb. 19 ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court to begin repairing the egalitarian section of the wall, according to the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government agreed to undertake the repairs a decade ago as part of a compromise to promote pluralism.

It is not known when the bill will be presented for a final vote of approval.

FILE - An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays ahead of the Jewish new year at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's old city, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File)

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 15, 2026--

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6981) (ISIN: JP3914400001) announces a new collaboration with Synopsys, Inc., enabling users of Synopsys' simulation tools to navigate directly to Murata's website to access and download the latest high-performance simulation models from Murata. The collaboration covers Synopsys' 3D electromagnetic field analysis tool Ansys HFSS™ and thermal analysis tool Ansys Icepak®, and marks a significant step toward streamlining the simulation workflow for electronic circuit designers. Murata is also the first company to offer passive component simulation models via Ansys Icepak*.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260615241645/en/

As demand for high-speed, high-capacity communications continues to grow, electronic circuit design has become increasingly complex. Engineers must now account for a range of physical phenomena, from electromagnetic interference (EMI) to component heat generation, within a single design. Addressing these challenges early in the design process is critical; overlooking them can trigger costly redesigns, extend development timelines, and drive up prototyping expenses. This has placed greater pressure on electronic component suppliers to provide ready-to-use, high-quality simulation models that are compatible with the tools engineers already rely on.

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The models are compatible with Ansys 2026 R1. Ansys HFSS supports electromagnetic field analysis and covers Murata's RF inductors and multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), while Ansys Icepak supports thermal analysis and covers Murata's power inductors.

Looking ahead, Murata will continue to deepen its collaboration with Synopsys, expanding its model lineup to support more advanced and efficient electronic design.

The following data is available for download from Murata's website:
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Electromagnetic field analysis data for Ansys HFSS — MLCCs
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For product data inquiries, please contact Murata regarding inductor products here, or capacitor products here.

Notes:
*Based on Murata research as of June 15, 2026.

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About Murata

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

[Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.] New collaboration with Synopsys