High Court Doubles Attendance Limit at Western Wall and Temple Mount Following Political Backlash Over Tel Aviv Protests

Israel's High Court increases the gathering limit at holy sites to 100 after a row over Tel Aviv protests, citing a need to balance security with religious freedom.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 8:24 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Constitutional Balancing of Worship and Protest

The High Court of Justice issued a pivotal ruling on Sunday to expand the number of worshipers permitted at the Western Wall and Temple Mount from 50 to 100. This decision follows a wave of petitions from religious leaders who argued that current wartime restrictions were being applied unevenly. High Court President Isaac Amit emphasized that the "freedom to demonstrate and freedom of worship and religion carry the same constitutional weight," addressing the visible emptiness of the Western Wall plaza during the Passover festival. The court has ordered the IDF Home Front Command and the Israel Police to provide a formal explanation for the lack of a policy that balances national security with religious rights.

Political Fallout from Habima Square Demonstrations

The catalyst for the court’s intervention was an interim ruling on Saturday that permitted 600 people to gather for an anti-government protest at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square. Despite the court-sanctioned limit, police later dispersed the crowd with force, alleging that attendance had exceeded the permitted number. The move to allow a political demonstration while holy sites remained largely restricted ignited a firestorm within the governing coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined religious leaders in condemning the court on social media, suggesting a "double standard" where left-wing protests were prioritized over Jewish prayer during a primary holiday.

Coalition and Opposition Clash Over Judicial Authority

The ruling has deepened the existing rift between the government and the judiciary during the war with Iran. Justice Minister Yariv Levin characterized the court’s involvement as "illegal" and "reckless," urging the cabinet to ignore judicial directives in favor of Home Front Command restrictions. Conversely, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused the Prime Minister of inciting against judges to deflect from domestic political failures. Other opposition figures, including Benny Gantz and Yair Golan, defended the court’s decision as being in accordance with security guidelines, labeling the government's rhetoric as a "panic-driven" attempt to divide the nation during a security crisis.