Head Scratcher | Haredi MKs postpone vote on controversial 'muezzin bill' because it may effect Shabbos sirens?!?

Another case where either politicians are purposely obtuse or the newspaper is not reporting the full story. 

"Health Minister Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) filed an appeal on the bill, which was to be voted upon Wednesday, due to concerns that, in addition to Muslim calls to prayer, it could also affect the sirens sounded indicating the start of the Sabbath."

It is unclear what Litzman's issue is. The Muslim call to prepare is 5 times a day and can be between 3 to 4 AM and 9 to 10 PM. That is likely more disruptive to people's sleep than the Shabbos siren that sounds once a week on Friday between 4 to 8 PM.

Israel Hayom | Haredi MKs postpone vote on controversial 'muezzin bill': "Haredi MKs postpone vote on controversial 'muezzin bill'

Haredi MKs fear bill could affect weekly Shabbat sirens • Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi: "We will not respect this law, and I call on our public: Revolt against it and reject it" • Jordanian Islamic affairs undersecretary denounces bill.
Gideon Allon, Erez Linn, Yehuda Shlezinger and Mati Tuchfeld

The vote on the so-called "muezzin bill," which would bar public places of worship from using loudspeakers for calls to prayer, was postponed following opposition from haredi Knesset members.

Health Minister Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) filed an appeal on the bill, which was to be voted upon Wednesday, due to concerns that, in addition to Muslim calls to prayer, it could also affect the sirens sounded indicating the start of the Sabbath.

According to Litzman, the bill could damage the long-standing status quo. The appeal will allow for further discussion before the delayed vote, expected to take place on Sunday.

The bill, sponsored by Habayit Hayehudi MKs Moti Yogev, Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli and Bezalel Smotrich, Likud MKs Miki Zohar, Avraham Neguise and Nurit Koren, and Kulanu MK Merav Ben-Ari, says that, given the proximity of Jewish and Arab neighborhoods to each other in Israel, the calls to prayer by mosques' muezzins five times each day -- at sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night -- affect residents for miles around. It seeks to limit calls to prayer at nighttime and to restrict the decibel level during the day.

The Joint Arab List is also expected to fight the muezzin bill. MK Ahmad Tibi (Joint Arab List) said Tuesday, "We will not respect this law, and I call on our public: Revolt against it and reject it. [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu personally stands behind this bill, and he spreads incitement against Islam."

Yisrael Beytenu faction head MK Robert Ilatov responded to his comments with an appeal to Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit, seeking a criminal investigation into the Joint Arab List Knesset member. "Tibi was interviewed by the Al Mayadeen channel in Lebanon, which identifies with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, regarding the muezzin bill. He called on the entire Arab public in Israel to reject the bill and even to revolt against the State of Israel. Tibi incessantly incites an entire [sector of the] public against the State of Israel."

Likud MK Anat Berko added, "Tibi and many members of his party work tirelessly to agitate the Arab citizens of Israel and to crudely tear at the delicate seems that still allow for coexistence between Jews and Arabs in a country where mosques remain peacefully intact."

Yogev called on opposition members Tuesday to support the bill: "We have no intention to harm freedom of religion, rather to prevent damage done to the sleep of the majority of citizens who are harmed by the calls of the muezzin."

The bill's approval by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Sunday caused a stir in Jordan, with Jordanian Islamic Affairs Undersecretary Abdullah Abbadi saying, "An occupier cannot make any historical change to the city it occupies, and things [must] remain the same without any change."

Abbadi, who is also director of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, stressed that the calls to prayer from Al-Aqsa will continue five times per day "forever.""

Life in Israel: Law Proposal: Strollers On Buses

Reposted from: Life in Israel: Law Proposal: Strollers On Buses:

If you were to get on a bus with a baby stroller and you have to either take the baby out and fold it up or else pay for an additional ride. Often you will see mothers, already burdened with kids and bags, start juggling everything they have including the baby they are removing from the stroller, all while the bus is lurching forward, in order to avoid being required to pay for the additional ride.

A law was proposed that would put an end to stroller-based-discrimination. An extra ride on public transportation would not need to be paid for, and it would also be illegal to prevent a stroller from being brought into a public building or area. It has happened numerous times that people with strollers were prevented from entering stores, libraries and other public places.

The law was initiated by some students who were working on a project of human rights. They include in their explanation that the folded up strollers usually don't take up so much less space than when the stroller is open, and the proposal is an attempt to protect the rights of the parents and the children.

The students initiated it, but it was proposed by MK Uri Maklev of UTJ, with a variety of other MKs signed on to the bill giving it a broad consensus that almost ensures it will pass when it comes to the vote.

(source: Israel HaYom)

Life in Israel: Proposed Laws: Cellphones While Crossing, Reserved Parking and Church/Mosque Arnona Exemptions

Reposted from Life in Israel: Proposed Laws: Cellphones While Crossing, Reserved Parking and Church/Mosque Arnona Exemptions

A few interesting law proposal were introduced recently:

1. MK Lia Shemtov has proposed a law that would ban using a cellphone while crossing the street. The initial proposal wanted to ban the sending of messages and emails and using apps on the phone. Doing this creates a distraction for the person crossing the street, at a time when he should be paying attention. Other MKs added to the proposal that it should include using a cellphone in general, as well as having earphones in place listening to either a cellphone or music player or sorts.