Herzog, who a few years ago tried to arrange for mixed prayers at the Western Wall, told the Conservative movement he has had "a special connection for several years with the Conservative stream of Judaism." He added he will continue to try to find "reasonable solutions" to establish conservative prayer services at the Robinson's Arch near the Western Wall Plaza.



When Herzog was cabinet secretary during the government of Ehud Barak, he established a committee to work towards egalitarian prayer services at the Wall, considered the most holy site where Jews are allowed to pray. The committee also was to examine the issue of conversions.



Orthodox rabbis make up the membership of authorized governing bodies on matters of divorces, marriages, burials and conversions. The Conservative and Reform movements have been lobbying for several years to allow their rabbis to share the authority in official state institutions.



Orthodox Jews make up the vast majority of religious Jews in Israel, but the Reform and Conservative movements have been growing. The Conservative branch began in 1979 and has grown from 15 to 50 communities throughout the country, establishing synagogues on major university campuses.



Herzog was invited to address the annual Israeli Conservative movement's convention on Sunday, but wrote that he regretted he was unable to attend.