It's occasionally illustrative to our own nation (for those who have eyes to see) when majority-religion issues tie up governments in knots over providing equity across sectarian lines when the majority population sees no reason to do so. Because That's How Things Are, and doing it differently is therefore Clearly Wrong.
One interesting aspect the article draw out is the significant difference in Jewish denominations (if that's the correct term) in Israel, vs. tourist visitors to Israel (largely from the US). I can certainly understand Israelis resenting internal policy decisions being made based on what non-Israelis believe and want to see (and want to participate in at the home of Judaism), but the relationship between the US and Israel is always problematic, in both directions. The Israeli government cannot afford the optics (and more) of this to American Jews (or, heck, Americans), but they also cannot afford to torque off their own more narrow-minded constituents.
(This is, of course, a relatively benign aspect of all of this, vs. issues related to West Bank settlements, how Israeli Arabs are treated, how Palestinian Arabs are treated, and other religious-based state oppressions. But it's also highly symbolic, and of much greater visibility to Americans.)
No Mixed-Gender Prayer Space at the Western Wall – The Atlantic
The Israeli government’s reversal followed opposition from ultra-Orthodox groups.
