Israel’s Ben Gvir pushes bill to ban Islamic call to prayer

Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s party is advancing new legislation to restrict the Islamic call to prayer from mosques. The proposed bill would require state licenses for mosque loudspeakers, set criteria for volume and location, and impose heavy fines for non-compliance. Proponents describe the call to prayer as "unreasonable noise," but Palestinian citizens of Israel have condemned the measure. Opponents argue the bill is not about noise but is part of a broader effort to erase Palestinian religious and cultural identity.