In an ironic twist, it was in the midst of horrendous days for Israeli peace activists and human rights organizations that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did what all its predecessors had not done to advance the principle of equality. On Jan. 31, the Cabinet decided to allot a section of the Western Wall compound to non-Orthodox worshippers, including the Women of the Wall.

The decision was hailed as historic and unprecedented, but is it a harbinger of things to come? Is this the sign of a liberal “Jewish Spring”? Can the decision be viewed as the first sign of Netanyahu's fulfillment of his promise made last November in the United States to strengthen non-Orthodox denominations in Israel? At a meeting of the Jewish Federations of North America on Nov. 10, Netanyahu proclaimed, “The Wall is a source of unity for our people, not a point of division. … I will always ensure that all Jews can feel at home in Israel.”

One can understand the favorable reactions of the heads of the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel and the United States and the Jewish Federations, who applauded the Cabinet's decision. One can share in the joy of the Women of the Wall, many of whom are Meretz activists who hurried to wrap themselves in Jewish traditional prayer shawls and thank the government for its important gesture. It is highly doubtful, however, that the new prayer space will become a cornerstone for the creation of a new relationship between the Jewish state and the Jewish religion. The chances that this government will separate religion — to be precise, ultra-Orthodoxy — and the state are about the same as ultra-Orthodoxy separating itself from the Western Wall or the current government recognizing conversion, marriage or divorce by Reform rabbis or allocating funding for the Conservative movement to build synagogues.

An assault by the ultra-Orthodox parties on the tiny concession to the other Jewish denominations was anticipated and routine. Interior Minister and Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri asserted that “faithful Judaism” will not allow the Reform and Conservative movements to “create breaches in the wall of faithful Judaism and violate the sanctity of a site from whence the [Divine Presence] does not depart.” Knesset member Moshe Gafni, a Yahadut HaTorah leader, surprised no one when he promised, “This group of clowns will never, ever receive recognition.”