JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday approved in a preliminary reading a bill that seeks to ban the broadcasting of the Muslim call to prayer through mosque loudspeakers, according to Israeli media reports.
The Israel Hayom newspaper said the proposed legislation aims to strengthen enforcement against what it described as “mosque noise”. The bill was approved by a 50-36 vote in the 120-member Knesset, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The legislation was introduced by the Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and was also supported by the opposition Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman.
Reacting to the move, Rawhi Fattouh, head of the Palestinian National Council, described the bill as a “crime” and an act of “legislative terrorism”.
In a statement, Fattouh said the proposal amounted to “a blatant violation of freedom of worship and belief”.
The bill must still pass three additional readings in the Knesset before it can become law.
According to Israel’s Channel 14, the proposed legislation stipulates that no sound system may be installed or operated in any mosque without obtaining explicit prior authorisation.