Ben-Gvir pushes bill to restrict Muslim call to prayer across occupied Palestine
Israel’s far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is advancing legislation in the Knesset that would impose heavy fines and police confiscation powers to restrict the Muslim call to prayer (Adhan) across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Media reports said on Sunday that the proposed bill would ban the installation or operation of loudspeaker systems in mosques without a permit in Palestinian cities, particularly within the 1948 occupied territories.
Unlike current procedures, permits would no longer be granted automatically but would instead require what the draft law describes as “careful examination.”
If approved, the legislation would apply broadly to areas under Israeli control and full occupation.
Ben-Gavir said that the proposed law would provide police with enforcement tools they currently lack.
The hawkish minister claimed that the call to prayer harms the quality of life and health of residents.
The move follows directives issued last year by Ben-Gvir instructing police to begin seizing mosque loudspeakers used for the Adhan under the pretext that the call to prayer “disturbs settlers.”
The extremist minister also called for fines to be imposed in cases where confiscation of loudspeakers was not possible.
Under the proposal, operating mosque loudspeakers without a permit would carry a fine of 50,000 shekels, while violations of permit conditions would be punishable by a 10,000-shekel fine.
In addition to financial penalties, the bill grants police the authority to confiscate sound equipment in the field, enabling the immediate seizure of mosque loudspeakers during enforcement actions by the Israel police.
Ben-Gvir, in recent months, has also provoked an international outcry by staging repeated intrusions into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds.
Palestinian resistance groups have strongly condemned in the strongest terms the statements made by Ben-Gvir regarding plans to establish a Jewish synagogue inside the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The developments come as the Knesset prepares to vote on the most recent bill introduced by Ben-Gvir that would allow the execution of Palestinian prisoners accused of planning or carrying out attacks.
The extremist minister earlier this week also proposed constructing a prison for Palestinian detainees "surrounded by crocodiles."
Channel 13 reported that the Israel Prison Service (IPS) was reviewing the proposal, which is reportedly "intended to prevent jailbreaks."
Israel has intensified violations of human rights and religious freedom against Palestinians across the occupied territories since it launched a genocidal war against the besieged Gaza Strip in October 2023.
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