Israeli Parliament Mandates Voice Message Accessibility for Kosher Phone Users in Public Services

The Knesset has approved a law requiring public bodies to provide digital notifications via voice messages to holders of kosher phones, ensuring they are not excluded from essential communications. The amendment to the Digital Communication with Public Bodies Law passed unanimously in its second and third readings, with 16 votes in favor and none against or abstaining. Initiated by Deputy Communications Minister Yisrael Eichler of United Torah Judaism and led by MK Yinon Azulai of Shas, the law addresses the exclusion of hundreds of thousands of kosher phone users who cannot receive text messages from government agencies.

The rapid shift of government services to SMS-based digital communication had left these citizens disconnected, often causing missed deadlines, unnecessary fines, and loss of financial rights. Under the new law, agencies such as the Tax Authority, National Insurance Institute, and Population and Immigration Authority must convert official digital messages into recorded voice messages for recipients with phones that do not support SMS. The system will require confirmation of message receipt or reasonable repeated call attempts to ensure delivery.

Recipients will be able to replay voice messages for at least 30 days by calling back the sending number. The law also mandates data collection and accessibility evaluations for services in Arabic, Amharic, and Russian. To facilitate implementation, a phased rollout is planned: within two years, voice message accessibility must cover at least 60% of common digital services, and full compliance across the three agencies is required within three years.

Deputy Communications Minister Eichler hailed the legislation as a significant advancement for communities adhering to strict religious technology standards, affirming their right to equal access to government services.