The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) and the National Democratic Assembly (Balad) have strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s preliminary approval of a bill seeking to restrict the Muslim call to prayer, describing it as part of an ongoing racist and fascist campaign targeting Arab citizens, their identity, and their fundamental right to practice their religion.

In a joint statement, the two parties argued that the proposed legislation is not merely an administrative or noise-related measure, but rather a political attempt to silence the call to prayer, which they described as an essential and historic component of the Arab and Islamic landscape in the country and a living symbol of the deeply rooted Palestinian Arab presence in their homeland.

The statement emphasized that the legislation comes at a time when organized crime and violence continue to rise in Arab communities, with record numbers of killings being reported. According to the statement, state authorities that fail to adequately address crime have instead chosen to target the call to prayer, reflecting what the parties described as discriminatory priorities.

Hadash and Balad further argued that the bill represents a dangerous intervention in religious affairs, undermining freedom of worship and attempting to subject mosques and religious institutions to policies of surveillance, intimidation, and control.

The statement also accused the current Israeli government, led by right-wing and far-right figures, of promoting policies that reinforce Jewish supremacy in the public sphere while targeting Arab citizens, Muslims, and their holy sites. It argued that those who characterize the call to prayer as a disturbance remain silent regarding the sounds of warplanes, bombardments, and home demolitions.

According to the statement, the call to prayer is not “noise,” but rather a religious practice, a collective and individual right, and an integral part of the daily life and cultural identity of Arab towns and villages. The parties asserted that targeting it amounts to an attack on people’s dignity, belonging, and religious freedom.

The statement concluded by warning that such legislation would only deepen division and hostility while encouraging further attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites. It reaffirmed that defending freedom of worship and protecting religious sites remains an inseparable part of the broader struggle against discrimination, racism, and exclusionary policies.