The Knesset approved a bill in a preliminary reading Wednesday that would toughen enforcement against excessive noise from mosques. The legislation is sponsored by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the Knesset National Security Committee chair.
The Knesset on Wednesday evening approved in a preliminary reading a bill that would toughen enforcement against excessive noise from mosques during prayer calls. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the Knesset National Security Committee chair are listed as sponsors. No vote margin or committee timetable was announced. The bill advances alongside a related measure — the so-called muezzin bill — which the Knesset passed in a separate preliminary vote earlier Wednesday, 50-36 in favor, as The Zioneer reported at 17:38 Jerusalem.
The earlier muezzin bill, reported in five successive updates from 17:38 Jerusalem, targets the use of loudspeakers and public-address systems in places of worship. That vote saw 50 in favor and 36 opposed. The reporting on that vote evolved from an initial vote-count confirmation (version 1, Daphna Liel/N12) to later versions adding Ben Gvir's criticism of United Torah Judaism lawmakers for boycotting the vote (version 4), and Shas party support (version 3). The new bill focuses specifically on enforcement mechanisms rather than an outright ban on loudspeakers.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday, the muezzin bill passed its preliminary reading with a recorded vote. The current bill is promoted by the same minister, Ben Gvir, who has publicly criticized coalition partners for not backing related legislation on mosque noise. A separate background item from Jun 10 noted that a controversial appointments bill also passed a preliminary reading that day with 53-41.
It remains unclear which committee will debate the new enforcement bill, and no date has been set for its continued legislative process. The specific enforcement powers and penalties contained in the bill have not yet been detailed.
5 developments
- DevelopingHamas condemns Knesset's preliminary approval of muezzin bill
- StrongMuezzin bill set for Knesset plenum vote next week; Avraham Hasson alleges Ben Gvir maneuver behind the scenes
- DevelopingYisrael Beytenu announces support for muezzin bill
- DevelopingMK Waleed al-Hawashla confronts muezzin bill initiators in Knesset debate
Source and signal
- Internal intake