Ummm... fucking hell.
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.
