Israel Palestine Conflict: Controversial 'Muezzin Bill' Slammed By Israeli Police

Israeli police opposed the controversial “muezzin bill” over fears that the bill, if passed, could spur extremism in Arab communities, harming their attempts at increasing law enforcement in the Arab sectors, a report said.

“The issue of how mosques are treated is perceived as highly sensitive in the Arab sector. It was decided to not treat the issue bluntly, especially in view of the fact that dramatic subjects, such as housing demolitions, make it difficult to penetrate the Arab sector,” the internal police assessments, acquired by Israeli news website Walla News, said.

The controversial anti-noise legislation, dubbed the “muezzin bill,” was proposed by lawmaker Moti Yogev at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Nov. 13, saying it would restrict the use of loudspeakers at mosques in the country to tackle noise. Muezzin refers to a man calling Muslims to prayer from the mosque’s minaret, usually using loudspeakers.

The report revealed that the police had recommended stricter policing on mosques in mixed areas that have a history of more complaints. However, officials believe implementing the controversial bill would harm their relationship with Arab community leaders.

“It seems that there is not one supporter in the government for the bill to silence the muezzin, except for the prime minister and the right-wing fringe,” Ayman Odeh, a member of the Knesset, said of the report.

“This law is an unnecessary evil promoted by the prime minister for the sole purpose of inspiring polarization and hatred.”

The Knesset postponed a vote on the “muezzin bill” for the third time last week to “soften the bill to [apply to] the night hours only.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the bill criticized by Muslims, Jewish and Christian communities.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the anti-noise legislation calling it “irrational” and “conscienceless” adding that Israel was adopting “policies of repression and discrimination against our Palestinian brothers.”