American Jews warn Israeli leader of looming 'rupture'

JERUSALEM — American Jewish leaders have told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they are deeply disappointed over Israel's failure to carry out a historic agreement to allow non-Orthodox Jewish prayers at a Jerusalem holy site.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, says a delegation told Netanyahu on yesterday that this is a "serious issue" that could lead to a "rupture" with American Jews.

Israel's Cabinet voted this year to build a new plaza for mixed gender prayer at the Western Wall, adjacent to the current Orthodox prayer plaza. It was viewed as a victory for liberal streams of Judaism, which are dominant in the US

Religious elements in Netanyahu's coalition oppose the plan.

Netanyahu says he remains committed to finding a solution.