Al-Shabaka Logo
Al-Shabaka Logo
Al-Shabaka Logo
Al-Shabaka Logo
Al-Shabaka Logo
Al-Shabaka Logo
Donate Sign Up
  • العربية
  • English
  • Policy Analysis
    • Civil Society
    • Economics
    • Politics
    • Refugees
    • Scenario Matrix
  • Policy Insights
    • Policy Focus
    • Policy Labs
    • Podcasts
  • Policy Network
    • Members
    • Contributors
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Internship Program
    • Contact
    • Donate
    • Privacy & Terms of Use
  • Media & Outreach
    • Op-Eds & Articles
    • In the Media
    • Events
    • Press Releases
    • Press Contacts
Al-Shabaka Logo
Al-Shabaka Logo
Media Mention via Mondoweiss

Facing pressure from the right, Netanyahu supports ‘racist’ muezzin bill to appease settler base

By Mondoweiss December 15, 2016

References Nur Arafeh

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Email
  • Print
The Israeli government this week continued to stall a so-called “muezzin bill” that if passed would criminalize mosques for playing the call the prayer over loudspeakers, legislation that critics deem a political move by the Israeli Prime Minister to appease the far-right.

A preliminary Knesset vote on the bill was postponed for the fourth week in a row Wednesday after ongoing rejection from across the political spectrum.

MK Moti Yogev of the far-right Habayit Hayehudi party proposed the bill and stated last week its aim was to “prevent noise from houses of worship was designed to safeguard the sleep of citizens, Jews and Muslims alike.”

An anti-noise law already exists that can and has been used to address loudspeakers playing the call to prayer above state-allotted decibel levels. Reut Mor, spokeswoman for Joint List head MK Ayman Odeh, said the bill was formed with the sole intention to silence mosques, calling the bill “racist” and a “dead letter.”

While Yogev’s initial version applied only to mosques, a revised bill including all houses of worship was later okayed by Israeli ministers for Knesset review, spurring Israel’s Minister of Health, ultra-Orthodox Yaakov Litzman, to appeal the bill out of fear of its potential impact on use of the Shabbat siren.

Litzman unblocked the bill after revisions allowed a loophole for the siren, according to Israeli media.

Mondoweiss logo

Read the Original Article

An independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and foster public debate on Palestinian human rights and self determination within the framework of international law. Al-Shabaka materials may be reproduced and circulated with due attribution to Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network. The opinions of individual members of Al-Shabaka’s policy network do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization as a whole.

  • Policy Analysis
    • Civil Society
    • Economics
    • Politics
    • Refugees
    • Scenario Matrix
  • Policy Insights
    • Policy Focus
    • Policy Labs
    • Podcasts
  • Policy Network
    • Members
    • Contributors
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Internship Program
    • Contact
    • Donate
    • Privacy & Terms of Use
  • Media & Outreach
    • Op-Eds & Articles
    • In the Media
    • Events
    • Press Releases
    • Press Contacts
  • Contact
    • Contact al-Shabaka by email at:
      [email protected]
    • Or by mail:
      Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network
      P.O. Box 8533
      New York, NY 10150

© 2010-2023 Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network. All rights reserved.

×