A bill to bar the Reform and Conservative movements from using public mikvaot for conversion ceremonies was approved in its first reading in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday by a vote of 42-38.

Following an argument within the coalition about the proposed law on Sunday, it was agreed that the bill would not be advanced to its first reading until changes were made to it to preserve the autonomy of women when using mikvaot.

However, none of the coalition parties or MKs have promised to block the law entirely. […]

Religious Services Minister David Azoulay spoke out fiercely against the non-Orthodox Jewish denominations when explaining the reasoning for the bill.

“Those who do not accept the authority of the Torah and brazenly trample its commandments cannot claim to represent a stream of the Jewish religion,” said Azoulay.