[107746] Shas faction supports the 'Muezzin Law' and criticizes Ben-Gvir

Tension in the coalition over the Muezzin Law

The Shas faction announced today (July 1, 2026) that it will support the 'Muezzin Law' promoted by Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir. The announcement, which was published simultaneously by several media channels including Hot News and Yinon Magal, emphasizes that Shas had supported similar legislation as early as 2017.

Despite the support, Shas expressed disappointment with Minister Ben-Gvir's conduct. In an official statement cited in Political Arena and Hot News, the party claimed that the Minister chose to bring the law up on Monday instead of bringing it to a vote in coordination with them, and this was, according to them, "to scrape up votes by attacking his partners in the right-wing bloc." Shas noted that had Ben-Gvir acted in coordination, it would have been possible to pass the law preventing Knesset member visits to Nukhba terrorists at the same time.

On the other hand, criticism also came from the opposition. As reported in News in Real Time, Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas responded sharply to the decision: "Disappointed, we specifically expected them not to support a racist and anti-religious law."

The issue of the 'Muezzin Law' continues to be a point of political friction, while at the same time, assessments are rising in News in Real Time regarding future attempts to promote legislation that would restrict the playing of melodies ahead of the onset of the Sabbath, which indicates the complexity of religion and state relations in the current political discourse.