The Knesset plenum passed a controversial bill in a preliminary reading on Wednesday that seeks to restrict the noise levels of mosque loudspeaker systems in the country by requiring permits for their operation and imposing fines for noise violations.
The “muezzin bill” passed with 50 lawmakers in favor and 36 against. It will now be brought to a Knesset committee for advancement and still requires three more readings to come into effect.
The bill was sponsored by MK Zvika Fogel from the far-Right Otzma Yehudit Party, which is led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
It passed its preliminary reading after a heated debate in the plenum, in which Ben-Gvir and members of his party clashed with lawmakers from the Arab parties.
“הצעת החוק הזו לא באה לפגוע בחופש הדת, היא באה להגן על הזכות לחיים שקטים, לבריאות ולאיכות חיים” – ח”כ צביקה פוגל מציג את הצ”ח המואזין
🏛️מתוך הדיון במליאה@tzvikafoghel https://t.co/216MD19ou2 pic.twitter.com/5bcI16A13v
— ערוץ כנסת 99 (@KnessetT) July 1, 2026
Similar legislation has been attempted in past government terms, receiving strong opposition from lawmakers in the Arab parties.
Lawmakers from the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Sephardic Shas Party voted in favor of the legislation, following a recent boycott of coalition voting. The opposition party Yisrael Beytenu also stated it would vote in favor of the bill.
Prohibition on public speakers in mosques without permit
The legislation proposes to prohibit the installation and operation of public speakers in mosques without a permit.
In addition, it is proposed to grant police officers the authority to enter a location where a breach has been reported, for the stated purpose of stopping the noise.
The bill also sets fines for violations, ranging from NIS 10,000 to NIS 50,000 depending on the circumstances.
The explanatory notes of the legislation state that, in Israel and many countries around the world, “one of the most severe sources of noise pollution is the use of loudspeaker systems in mosques throughout the day.”
“For decades, the public has been exposed to intolerable noise that harms both health and quality of life, yet the phenomenon continues,” it continues.
The explanatory notes add that, according to testimonies from across the country following the October 7 Hamas massacre in 2023, the volume of mosque broadcasts increased significantly, allegedly intending to express solidarity with Hamas and harm the quality of life of Israeli citizens.
Clear noise-level restrictions in Muslim countries
The bill’s proposal argues that in many Muslim countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, there are clear restrictions on noise levels, and “some countries have almost entirely prohibited the use of loudspeaker systems in mosques.”
Ahead of the vote, the Otzma Yehudit Party stated that the legislation was expected to receive support from all coalition factions, along with the ultra-Orthodox parties.
Otzma Yehudit noted that even lawmakers from the opposition party Yisrael Beytenu were expected to support the bill, and that this was welcomed.
The party also stated that the legislation would “grant significant enforcement tools to law enforcement authorities in order to act against unreasonable noise from mosque muezzins, which Israeli citizens have reportedly suffered from for many years.”
