The Western Wall plaza, once regarded as a unifying national symbol for all Israelis, is now widely perceived and administered as an Orthodox synagogue. Visitors are required to follow religious regulations, including modest dress, and a large partition separates men and women in the prayer area.

In the years following the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, the character of the Western Wall was not firmly defined. A significant public debate emerged over whether the site should function primarily as a national historic monument open to diverse expressions of Jewish identity or as a traditional religious space governed by Orthodox practice. Over time, Orthodox customs became institutionalized, reshaping the site’s identity and the experience of those who visit it.