Israel’s parliament has approved the preliminary reading of a bill seeking to ban the broadcasting of the Azaan on loudspeakers, in a move that has drawn strong criticism from Palestinian leaders.
According to Israeli media reports, the bill was passed on Wednesday by 50 votes to 36 in the 120-member Knesset. The proposed law aims to tighten enforcement against what its supporters described as noise from mosques.
The bill was introduced by the Otzma Yehudit party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and was also backed by the opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party of right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman.
Under the proposed legislation, no sound system could be installed or operated in any mosque without prior official approval.
Rawhi Fattouh, head of the Palestinian National Council, condemned the move and described it as both a crime and an act of legislative terrorism. In a statement, he said the bill amounted to a clear violation of freedom of worship and belief.
The bill must still clear three more readings before it can become law.
The development is likely to deepen concerns over religious freedom and the treatment of Muslim worship practices under proposed Israeli legislation.
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