Israeli move to ban adhan condemned

Palestinian officials have condemned an Israeli move to ban the use of loudspeakers to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved on Sunday a draft legislation on the ban.

PA Minister of Endowment, Yussef Idees has condemned the legislation as a move to drag the region to a massive religious war, adding the legislation runs against the principles of freedom of religions and the international norms.

Palestinian mufti, Sheikh Mohammad Hossein too said Israel was accountable for the dire repercussions of the move.

The bill calls for barring the use of loudspeakers for any religious or "inciting" messages as part of the call to prayer.

The call to prayer -- also known as the adhan -- is broadcast five times a day from mosques or Islamic centers.