Israeli Knesset advances bill to ban Muslim call to prayer over loudspeakers

The Knesset approved a bill Wednesday that seeks to ban the broadcasting of the Muslim call to prayer, or adhan, in Israel on loudspeakers, according to media reports.

The Israel Hayom newspaper reported that the Knesset approved the bill in its preliminary reading to tighten law enforcement against what it described as "mosque noise."

The bill passed 50 - 36 in the 120-member parliament, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

Introduced by the Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the bill was backed by the opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party of right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman.

Rawhi Fattouh, head of the Palestinian National Council, described the move as a "crime" and a "legislative terrorism."

It is "a blatant violation of freedom of worship and belief," Fattouh said in a statement.

The bill must pass three additional readings before becoming law.

Banning the adhan through loudspeakers would effectively strip it of its practical purpose, as it serves to notify Muslims of prayer times rather than functioning merely as a ritual recited inside mosques.

According to Israel's Channel 14, the proposed legislation stipulates that no sound system may be installed or operated in any mosque without explicit prior authorization.