Israel Plans to Limit Azan in Occupied Palestinian Territories, Senior Minister: Harmful to Health

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir. (Twitter/@itamarbengvir)

Israel plans to restrict the azan, the marker for the arrival of prayer time for Muslims, in the occupied Palestinian territories, with the country's right-wing minister saying the call to worship is detrimental to health.

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir together with the Chairman of the National Security Committee of the Knesset Zvika Vogel are advancing legislation that will further restrict the azan in the occupied Palestinian territories, by turning religious oppression into a "public order" and law enforcement problem.

The proposed bill would ban the installation or operation of loudspeakers in mosques without a permit, by making approval no longer automatic but subject to what the text describes as "careful examination."

If passed, the law will apply broadly across all Israeli-occupied territory.

Based on the draft law, operating a loudspeaker system without a permit will be fined 50,000 shekels, while violations of existing permit provisions will be fined 10,000 shekels.

The bill further authorizes law enforcement officers to act directly at the scene, expanding law enforcement actions beyond fines.

In addition to sanctions, the proposal gives officers the authority to seize equipment in the field, which effectively allows for the immediate seizure of mosque loudspeaker systems during law enforcement actions by the Israeli Police.

Defending the initiative, Ben-Gvir claimed the call to prayer was what he called "ear noise," arguing that it made no sense in many areas and was harmful to the quality of life and health of residents.

"In many places, the noise of the call to prayer is unreasonable and detrimental to the quality of life and health of residents. This is an unacceptable phenomenon. The Israeli police will act decisively to enforce the law, and the proposed law gives them the tools they have always needed," he said, quoted from Al Mayadeen (29/12).

Meanwhile, critics have warned that similar initiatives disproportionately target Palestinian and Muslim communities and risk further entrenching discriminatory practices under the guise of regulation, such as launching Roya News.

Last year, Ben-Gvir instructed the head of the Israeli police to begin confiscating loudspeakers used for the call to prayer in mosques, especially in Palestinian cities in the 1948 occupied territories, under the pretext that "the azan disturbs the settlers."

According to Israeli media, Ben-Gvir also called for fines to be imposed in cases where confiscation of loudspeakers is not possible.