BICOM

Israel’s President met religious leaders from the Muslim and Jewish communities on Tuesday morning, to urge cooperation and understanding over the proposed Muezzin Bill.

The Muezzin Bill, which would ban the use of loudspeakers to amplify the Muslim call to prayer between 11pm and 7am, was proposed by coalition members from the Jewish Home party and Yisrael Beitenu, and will receive its first reading in the Knesset today. It was drafted in response to complaints about excessive noise in certain built up areas.

President Reuven Rivlin’s comments on the bill were made public on Monday, when he questioned why the bill was necessary. He subsequently invited faith leaders to his residence the following day to discuss how they could “have an impact on the whole public,” given that “it would be a shame that a law should be born which touches on the issue of freedom of faith of a specific group among us.”

Arab List MKs have called the bill “‎unconstitutional and anti-democratic,” and it has been opposed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid and others as unnecessary and inflammatory.

Shaked reportedly said: “There is already a law against excessive noise which is not being enforced. The Interior Minister, the Internal Security Minister, and the Environment Minister all agreed that the existing regulations [cover the issue of the muezzin].”

At the meeting, Rabbi Yosef Yashar, Chief Rabbi of Akko, shared his experience of coexistence in the city, “Dialogue is stronger than legislation.” President of the Islamic Sharia Court Sheikh Abdel al-Hakim Samara added that “we all agree there is a need to lower the volume in problematic areas and we will act to ensure this, regardless of the law.”

Sheikh Mohammed Ciooan, Head of the Imam’s organization which represents around 400 Imams, also urged coordination: “I hope we can reach an agreement through talks, without such laws.”