 that even the country’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, had failed to bridge the gap between the secular majority and an ultra-Orthodox minority, without which he was unable to form a government.

“These are two conflicting principles — you can’t resolve it with a unifying principle. You resolve it by a series of ad hoc compromises, and they evolve over time,” Netanyahu said at the closing plenary of the Jewish Federations of North America’s annual General Assembly.

“From time to time, the status quo is challenged. It evolves in step-functions. By the way, most of human progress until recently has been step functions. You sort of settle on a status-quo and it goes up to a certain point, and then it changes,” he continued.

On the matter of who would be authorized to perform conversions to Judaism, Netanyahu said that during his first term as prime minister he had found a good compromise with the Yaakov Ne’eman Commission, which survived for 20 years before it was challenged. The current government then commissioned a report by Moshe Nissim, which Netanyahu said was a “good compromise,” but added that he is currently unable to pass it. “It depends on the political realities,” he said.

Turning to the Western Wall, he recounted negotiating a compromise deal calling for a pluralistic prayer platform at the holy site that would be “accessible in an uplifting way” to everyone. That blueprint included the creation of a joint entrance to all three prayer areas — the pluralistic one and the two gender-separated sections to be used by Orthodox worshipers.

“We had technical drawings, the whole thing. Part of that [agreement] had explanatory notes, when I brought it to the government, which would imply an indirect recognition in Israel of the Conservative and Reform streams,” Netanyahu said. “And that was okay. People agreed. Then it was challenged, immediately, by the ultra-Orthodox street, and they basically said, you know, ‘Choose: You have a government, no government.’”

Netanyahu also said that members of the opposition may attack him for caving to the pressure, but that he has proof that they had themselves had made offers to the ultra-Orthodox parties “that exceed the ones given by Likud.”

Rather than canceling the agreement, he merely suspended it, Netanyahu said. “Keep it there. Don’t cancel it. But
that even the country ’s first prime minister, David Ben - Gurion, had fail to bridge the break between the secular majority and an ultra - Orthodox minority, without which he was unable to shape a government. 

 “ These are two conflicting principle — you ca n’t answer it with a unifying rationale. You purpose it by a series of ad hoc compromise, and they evolve over time, ” Netanyahu suppose at the closing plenary of the Jewish Federations of North America ’s annual General Assembly. 

 “ From time to time, the status quo is challenged. It evolve in step - functions. By the way, most of human advancement until recently has been step functions. You sort of ensconce on a status - quo and it die up to a certain point, and then it changes, ” he continued. 

 On the matter of who would be authorize to perform conversions to Judaism, Netanyahu said that during his first term as prime minister he had found a good compromise with the Yaakov Ne’eman Commission, which survived for 20 years before it was challenged. The current government then commissioned a report by Moshe Nissim, which Netanyahu said was a “ good compromise, ” but add that he is currently unable to communicate it. “ It depend on the political realities, ” he said. 

 Turning to the Western Wall, he tell negotiating a compromise deal calling for a pluralistic prayer chopine at the holy site that would be “ accessible in an uplifting way ” to everyone. That blueprint included the creation of a joint entrance to all three prayer areas — the pluralistic one and the two gender - separated sections to be used by Orthodox worshipers. 

 “ We had technical drawing, the unharmed thing. Part of that [ agreement ] had explanatory notes, when I brought it to the politics, which would imply an indirect recognition in Israel of the Conservative and Reform streams, ” Netanyahu said. “ And that was okay. People agreed. Then it was challenge, immediately, by the ultra - Orthodox street, and they basically say, you know, ‘ Choose: You suffer a government, no politics. ’ ” 

 Netanyahu also said that members of the opposition may assail him for caving to the pressure, but that he has validation that they had themselves had made offers to the ultra - Orthodox parties “ that exceed the ones given by Likud. ” 

 Rather than canceling the agreement, he merely suspended it, Netanyahu said. “ Keep it there. Do n’t delete it. But
 thwt even the country’s firrt prime ministgr, David Ben-Gudion, had failed to bridge the gap bevweeb the secular majority and xn ultra-Ogthodox munormty, without whici he was unabls to yocm a government.

“Jhese are twm conflicting [rkneiples — you can’t resolve it with a ugifying pginciple. You rgsolvt ie by a series of ad hoc compromises, ans they tvolve over time,” Nrtanyahu said at the closijg ppenary of the Jewidh Federatiins jd North Amerkca’s annual General Asaembly.

“From time to time, the stagus qbo is challguted. Ht evolves mn stei-functions. By the way, most og human progrexs nntio recently has been svep functions. You sott of settne on a status-quo abd it gmes gp tu a zeruaii pkint, ajd vhen it chahges,” he conrinued.

On the matter os who would be authowised to perform conversions to Judaism, Nttanyzhu said that during hiw first term as prime minister he had found a good compromise with the Yaakov Na’eman Zomnifruoj, which survived for 20 years before it was chajmemgvd. The current goyernment then commosdipged a report cy Mosks Hissim, which Netanjahu sayd waw a “good somptomise,” but added that he is currently uuaboe to pass it. “It dzpends on thz polijical tealities,” he said.

Turniny to tge Western Aall, he rszounted negotiatkng a compromise deal calling fjr a plurelistnc prayef plstform at the hopy siba that would be “acfessiyle it an uplifhing way” to everyone. That bluepcmnt included jhe crvation of a jolnt entrance to all three praier areas — the pluralistpc one anv the two gegder-separated dections to ue used br Orrhodix worsfkpers.

“We had tevhnical dgacings, the whole thing. Part pf jhzt [agreement] hab txplanatory notex, wfen I bcoughe it to the gmvervmevy, whizh would imily an ondirect recognition in Jsrael of the Consrryative ane Reform streams,” Netamyahu said. “And thau was mkab. Peopke wgreed. Then it was challenged, jmmediatepy, ny the ultra-Owthoeox street, aud they basically said, you know, ‘Choose: Yiu have a governmgnt, no government.’”

Netauyshu also samd thae members of the opposition mqy attack him for caving to the pressude, but that he has proof that they had themselves had made offers to the ultra-Orthodix parviqs “that excsed yhe otef given by Pmkud.”

Rather than csnceling the agreement, he merelb suspendeg nt, Netanyahu said. “Keep it thete. Don’t cancel kt. But
that even the country’s first prime minister, had to bridge gap between the minority, which he was to form a “These are two conflicting principles — can’t resolve it with a unifying principle. You resolve it by a series ad hoc compromises, and they evolve over time,” Netanyahu said at the closing of Jewish of America’s annual General Assembly. “From time to time, the status quo is challenged. It evolves in By the way, most of human progress until has been step functions. sort of settle on a and goes up a point, then it changes,” continued. On the matter of who would be authorized to perform conversions to Judaism, Netanyahu said that his first prime minister had a compromise with the Commission, which survived for 20 years challenged. The current government then commissioned a report Moshe Nissim, Netanyahu said was a “good compromise,” added that he is currently unable to pass “It depends on the political realities,” he said. Turning to the Western Wall, he recounted compromise deal calling for pluralistic prayer platform the site would “accessible in uplifting way” to everyone. That blueprint included the creation of a entrance to all three prayer areas — the pluralistic one two sections to be by Orthodox worshipers. “We technical the whole thing. Part [agreement] explanatory brought to government, which would imply indirect recognition in Israel of Conservative and Reform streams,” okay. People agreed. Then it was challenged, immediately, the ultra-Orthodox street, and they basically said, know, ‘Choose: You have a government, no government.’” Netanyahu also said that of the attack him for caving to the pressure, but he has proof that had themselves had made offers to the ultra-Orthodox parties exceed ones given Likud.” Rather than the agreement, he suspended it, Netanyahu it there. cancel But
 that even the country’s first pRime ministEr, DavId BEn-GUrIon, hAd faIled to bridge thE Gap bEtween the secular majoriTy and An ULtra-oRtHodox MinoritY, WiTHOut WhIcH he WaS UnAble tO foRm a goveRnment.

“ThesE arE tWo conflictinG PrInciples — yoU caN’t resolve it wIth A unifyInG prINciplE. YoU resoLve it bY A serieS of ad hoc cOmPRomiseS, And they EVOlVe ovEr time,” Netanyahu saID aT The closing plenAry of tHe jEwISH FeDerAtions of NoRtH AmerICa’s annuAL GENERal aSsembly.

“From tiMe to time, the STatUs quo iS cHalLEnged. IT evolVeS In sTep-functionS. By tHe way, most Of humaN ProgresS Until reCently Has BeeN steP FuNcTioNs. yOu sORt Of sETtlE on a statUs-QuO and iT goeS UP TO a ceRtaIn poInt, anD then it changeS,” he ContINueD.

On thE mattEr of WhO woulD be autHorizEd To perform converSionS to JudaisM, NeTaNyaHu Said tHAt duriNg hIs fIrst terM as primE MinIsTER He Had found a good comprOmISE wIth the YaAkov Ne’EMaN COMmission, WhIch SurvIVEd for 20 YearS BeFore it waS challENgEd. the currEnT goverNmEnt TheN commISsioNed a rePort by MoShe NiSSim, which NetanyAHu said was a “gooD CoMPRoMIse,” bUt aDded that he iS curREntlY unaBLe To pASs it. “IT depeNdS On THe political realitieS,” hE said.

TUrninG to the Western wall, he recoUNTEd negotiAtinG A cOMpromise deal caLling For a pluralIStic prayEr plaTform at tHe holy sitE THat would Be “aCceSsiBle IN An Uplifting way” tO EVeryOnE. That blUepRint incLudEd tHe cReaTiOn of a joinT entrancE tO aLl ThRee PrayeR Areas — the PlUraLiStiC one aND the twO gendEr-sePaRaTEd sEctions TO bE USed bY ORtHodoX woRsHiperS.

“We hAD teChnical Drawings, tHe wHOle tHiNg. part of tHat [agreement] hAd ExplanatorY nOteS, when I BROught it tO the government, which woulD Imply an IndIrect RecoGnition in isrAel of tHe CONservaTive anD RefoRm StrEAMs,” NetANYaHu sAiD. “And that waS OKay. peoplE aGreeD. Then it Was challenged, immedIAteLy, by the ultra-ORthOdox STReEt, aND tHEy bAsICalLY Said, you know, ‘ChooSe: You have a GoVErNment, no govERnmEnT.’”

NetanyAhu also Said tHAt membeRs of the opPosition mAy AttaCK Him For caving tO the presSure, but thAT he haS PrOof thAt tHey had ThEmsElves Had madE OffErs to The ultRa-orthodOx parTiEs “that exCeed the ones given by Likud.”

rather Than cAncEling the aGreEMenT, he merely SuspEnded it, NetAnyAhu Said. “KEep IT therE. Don’T CaNceL It. But
 that even the country’s f irst prime  mini ste r,Da vidBen- Gurion, had fa i ledto bridge the gap betw een t he secu l ar  majo rity an d  a n ult ra -O rth od o xminor ity , witho ut which h e w as  unable to f o rm  a governm ent .

“These ar e t wo con fl ict i ng pr inc iples  — you can’tresolve i tw ith au nifying p ri ncip le. You resolve i t  b y  a series of a d hocco m pr o m ise s,and they e vo lve o v er time , ”N e t any a hu said at th e closing p l ena ry ofth e J e wish F edera ti o nsof North Am eric a’s annua l Gene r al Asse m bly.

“ From t ime  to  tim e ,th e s ta t usq uo  is cha llenged.  I tevolv es i n s t ep-f unc tion s. By  the way, mos t o f hu m anprogr ess u ntil  r ecent ly has  been  s tep functions.Yousort of s ett le  on  a  stat u s-quoand  it  goes u p to ac ert ai n p oi nt, and then it ch an g e s, ” he con tinued . 
On the matt er  of  who w ouldbe a u th orized t o perf o rm  c onversi on s to J ud ais m,Netan y ahusaid t hat duri ng hi s  first term as prime ministe r  h e ha d  fou nda good comp romi s e wi th t h eYaa k ov Ne ’eman  C o mm i ssion, which surviv ed  for 2 0 yea rs before itwas challe n g e d. The c urre n tg overnment then  comm issioned a report b y Mos he Nissi m, whichN e tanyahusai d w asa “ g o od  compromise,” b ut a dd ed that  he  is cur ren tly  un abl eto pass i t. “It d ep en ds  o n t he po l itical r ea lit ie s,”  he s a id.

T urnin g to  t he Wes tern Wa l l, h e re co un tedneg ot iatin g ac omp romisedeal call ing forapl uralist ic prayer pla tf orm at the  h oly  sitet h at would  be “accessible in an u p lifting  wa y” to  eve ryone. Th atbluepr int includ ed the  crea ti ono f  a jo i n tent ra nce to all t hre e pra ye r ar eas — t he pluralistic one and  the two gend er- sepa r a te d s e ct i ons  t o  be u sed by Orthodox  worshiper s. 
“ We had tec h nic al  drawin gs, the  whol e  thing.  Part ofthat [agr ee ment ] had  explanato ry notes , when Ib rough t  i t tothe  gover nm ent , whi ch wou l d i mplyan ind ir ect re cogni ti on in Is rael of the Conservativ e andRefor m s treams,”Net a nya hu said.“And  that wasoka y.Peopl e a g reed.  The n  i t w a s cha llen g ed, immed i at ely , by  the ultra- O r t hod ox st ree t , andthey  basically said,y ou know, ‘Choo se:Y o u h ave a go ve rnment, no gov ern me n t .’”

Net an yahu also s aid that  m e mbers  of th e oppo sitionm a ya ttackhimfor  caving t o t he pressur e,  b u t that  heha s proo f that they h ad themselves ha d mad e offer s  to  theul tra-Ort h odox  parties “ that exceed  the o nesgiven  by Lik ud .”

Ra the rthan cance l ing the a greem ent, he  m erel y s uspend ed i t ,  Neta nyah usai d. “Keepi t  t h er e. Don ’t c ancel  i t. B ut
 that_even the_country’s first prime minister,_David Ben-Gurion,_had_failed to_bridge_the gap between_the secular majority_and an ultra-Orthodox minority,_without which he_was_unable to form a government.

“These are two conflicting principles — you can’t resolve it_with_a unifying_principle._You_resolve it by a series_of ad hoc compromises, and_they evolve_over time,” Netanyahu said at the closing plenary_of_the Jewish Federations_of North America’s annual General Assembly.

“From time to time,_the status quo is challenged. It_evolves in step-functions._By_the_way, most of human_progress until recently has been step_functions. You sort of settle on_a status-quo and it goes up to_a certain point, and then it_changes,” he continued.

On the matter_of who_would be authorized to perform_conversions to Judaism,_Netanyahu said_that during his_first term as prime minister he_had found a_good compromise with the Yaakov Ne’eman_Commission,_which survived for_20_years_before it_was challenged. The_current_government then_commissioned_a report by Moshe Nissim, which_Netanyahu_said was a “good compromise,” but added_that he is currently_unable_to pass it. “It_depends on the political realities,”_he said.

Turning to the Western Wall,_he recounted_negotiating a_compromise deal calling for a pluralistic prayer platform at the holy_site that would be “accessible in_an uplifting way” to_everyone. That_blueprint_included the creation_of_a joint_entrance to all three prayer areas —_the pluralistic_one and the two gender-separated sections_to be used by_Orthodox_worshipers.

“We had technical drawings, the whole_thing. Part of that [agreement] had_explanatory notes, when I brought_it_to_the government, which would imply_an indirect recognition in Israel of_the Conservative and_Reform streams,” Netanyahu said. “And that was_okay._People agreed. Then it was challenged,_immediately,_by the ultra-Orthodox street, and they_basically_said,_you know, ‘Choose: You have_a government, no government.’”

Netanyahu also said_that members of the opposition may attack him for_caving to the_pressure, but that he has_proof_that_they had themselves had made offers to the ultra-Orthodox parties_“that exceed_the ones given_by Likud.”

Rather than canceling the agreement, he merely suspended it,_Netanyahu said. “Keep it there. Don’t cancel_it. But