Muezzin Bill Set for Vote Next Week as Otzma Yehudit Says Ballot Will Test the “Gafni-Tibi Deal”
Video: A dispute in the Finance Committee between Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni / Official Knesset website
The Knesset plenum is expected to debate next week the Muezzin Bill, which is being promoted by the Otzma Yehudit faction. Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is expected to advance the proposal together with the chairman of the National Security Committee and the faction chairman, Tzvika Fogel. The debate comes against the backdrop of claims heard in recent days in the political system about cooperation between the Haredi factions and the Arab parties around votes in the Knesset.
According to the claims, members of the Hadash-Ta'al Knesset faction were absent from the vote on the Torah Study Basic Law, which passed its preliminary reading, while members of Degel HaTorah are expected not to take part in the vote on the Muezzin Bill. A source in the Arab parties told Walla that, "All political alliances change, except for that of Gafni and Tibi. The natural partnership, cultural, social and also economic, of the Arab public is with the Haredim. This is an authentic partnership around religion." It was also reported that behind the Knesset plenum today, Ta'al chairman Ahmed Tibi was heard telling Education Minister Yoav Kish, "I will argue with you, but not with Gafni."
In Otzma Yehudit, they say the upcoming vote may make clear whether there is indeed political coordination between the sides. According to faction sources, the results of the vote will make it possible to examine the position of the Haredi parties regarding the bill. The claims of understandings between Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni and members of the Arab parties around plenum votes were denied by those involved. However, the expected vote next week is likely to draw political attention given the dispute surrounding the issue.
It should be noted that under the proposal, setting up or operating a public address system in a mosque without prior permit would be prohibited. The explanatory notes to the proposal say that noise is a health hazard, and that there is currently no dedicated and sufficient enforcement mechanism to deal with the matter.
