The Shas Sephardic religious party, whose spiritual leader is Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has proposed a bill providing that would set a one-year prison term for missionaries. The bill comes on the heels of a report that 70 Israelis are expected to convert to Islam this year.

Shas emphasized that the bill does not contradict the right of freedom of religion and simply prevents people from harassing those who live according to a different faith.