Ben-Gvir says police fined Tel Sheva mosque over adhan noise

TEL SHEVA, Israel — Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on X on Sunday that police had fined a mosque in Tel Sheva for noise above legal limits. The reports did not state the exact date of the fine or the amount.

Ben-Gvir said police visited the mosque, carried out checks and drew up a record of the violation. In his post, he said the enforcement was not limited to Tel Sheva. He said it was being applied across Israel under a policy he led. He wrote: "After I took office, I changed the policy. There are still things to improve." He did not say what new measures he planned.

In a separate statement on X, Ben-Gvir said he was proud to lead a policy to reduce what he called "illogical noise" from mosque loudspeakers that disturbs the Israeli public. Reports say he has argued that Western countries and some Arab countries have placed limits on the call to prayer, and that he wants to introduce a similar ban in Israel.

Tel Sheva is a city in southern Israel. Reports describe it as a place where Arabs and Jews live side by side. The reports do not say whether the mosque has responded to the fine or whether it plans to appeal.

The reports do not give a date for the fine. The source material does not say whether the penalty has been paid, what it amounts to, or whether it will be challenged in court. It is also unclear how many other mosques have been fined under the policy. The reports do not include a response from Tel Sheva residents, local religious leaders or police.

Background

In December 2024, Ben-Gvir ordered that loudspeakers be confiscated from mosques, according to the reports. He said the order applied to mosques in cities where Arabs and Jews live together.

Ben-Gvir leads the Jewish Power party. According to the reports, the party has submitted a new bill to the Knesset to restrict the call to prayer across the country. The bill passed a committee on a Sunday, 31 May, and was sent to the Knesset for further debate. The reports do not say when the bill is expected to be voted on.

Ben-Gvir is a far-right politician. Reports from Turkish media describe his policies as part of a wider debate in Israel over noise rules and religious practice in mixed cities. Israeli authorities have not publicly responded to the reports in the source material.