Israel moves forward with banning calls to prayer

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation has approved a draft law to ban the use of speakers for calls to prayer in mosques in Jerusalem and Arab towns within the Green Line. Kol Israel in Arabic reported that the committee will present the law to the Knesset following hours of deliberation. The committee's statement attached to the decree cited as reasoning that the call to prayer is a form of noise pollution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his support for the decree at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting Nov. 13, before the ministerial committee approved it. He said he will back the law once it reaches the Knesset, and he would urge all his ministers to do the same, according to Haaretz.

The Israeli Ministerial Committee has successively failed to submit the draft law to the Knesset for voting, as voting on the law was delayed during the Knesset's preliminary reading session Nov. 16, after Health Minister Yaakov Litzman filed an appeal Nov. 15, citing fear that it might affect certain Jewish religious rituals, such as whistling to announce the Sabbath. The voting session was again delayed Nov. 23, and the draft law is expected to be submitted for another voting session Nov. 30.

Meanwhile, Haaretz revealed Nov. 24 that there had been an agreement between Litzman and head of the coalition David Bitan, according to which the draft law will be amended. The use of speakers will be banned between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. only. For his part, Arab member of the Knesset Ahmad Tibi said in a press statement Nov. 23, “The text of the draft law remains unchanged, although it seems the Israeli prime minister’s office, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and those supporting the law have previously agreed to announce changing the hours during which calls to prayer can be made.”