Muezzin
MuezziniStock

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered Coalition Chairman David Amsalem (Likud) to advance the "Muezzin Law" immediately upon the opening of the Knesset's summer session, Reshet Bet reported.

The law, initiated by MK Moti Yogev (Jewish Home) and MK Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beytenu), forbids the muezzin from playing during the late evening and early morning hours.

Israel already has a law banning loud noise after 11:00 p.m., but it is not enforced for muezzin.

Explaining the law, Yogev said, "This is an important and moral law for Jews and Arabs alike who want to sleep peacefully. We are pleased with the intention to promote the bill for the benefit of the citizens of Israel, and we look forward to its advancement as soon as possible."

"We received many requests from Jews and Arabs who want to promote the law. 100 years ago there were no loudspeakers, and there is no reason why the call to prayer should disturb people's rest late at night or in the early morning hours."

Two weeks ago, the UTJ MK Menachem Moses said the haredi parties made a mistake by supporting the Muezzin Law at all, and admitted that the haredi parties had made legislative "deals" with the Joint Arab List.

"The UTJ's support of the Muezzin Law in the Knesset was a mistake," Moses told Kol Barama Radio. "We have now arrived at a dead end with the Arab MKs."

According to Moses, the "deals" with the Arab parties are in order to garner support for laws important to the haredi parties.

"We do 'business' with them so that they will support laws important to the haredi public," Moses explained.

A week prior to Moses' statement, Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni (UTJ) announced that his party would not support the Muezzin Law. In response, Yogev said that the Jewish Home would no longer support laws put forward by the UTJ party.

The haredi parties have already delayed the muezzin law, claiming that it would harm the "Shabbat sirens" played just prior to sunset on the eve of Shabbat (the Sabbath) and holidays.

Meanwhile, Egypt legislated "noise control" during the month of Ramadan last year.