Israel detains 5 women for praying at men's only section of Western Wall

JERUSALEM - The Associated Press

Members of the liberal religious group Women of the Wall wear phylacteries and "Tallit" traditional Jewish prayer shawls for men as they sing and pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on April 11, 2013 marking the first day of the Jewish month of Iyar. AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON

Israeli police have detained five women while praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for performing religious rituals that ultra-Orthodox Jews say are reserved for men.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says about 120 woman arrived for their monthly prayer service Thursday and five were detained for wearing prayer shawls.

The arrests come a day after Israeli authorities proposed a compromise to diffuse tensions over their services by establishing a new section at the site where men and women can pray together.
 
The Western Wall, believed to be the only remaining part of the biblical Temple compound, is the holiest site where Jews can pray. It is currently divided into men's and women's sections. Orthodox rabbis, who control Israel's religious institutions, oppose mixed prayers.

The new proposal still needs government approval.