The key facts

  • Ben-Gvir spoke about the fine on the Al-Rahma mosque in Tel Sheva for 'unacceptable noise' and declared a nationwide noise-control policy.
  • The United Arab List filed a complaint against Ben-Gvir, his party Jewish Power, the police and the land authorities.
  • Arab parties demand a ban on using demolitions and evictions in campaigning and call on Arab citizens to vote on October 27.

Mosque fine as an election argument

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday used fines imposed on mosques to promote his election campaign. On Sunday, police subordinate to Ben-Gvir raided the Al-Rahma mosque in the Abu Anza neighborhood of the southern city of Tel Sheva and issued a fine for allegedly excessive loudspeaker volume. On Monday, Ben-Gvir published a photo of the mosque on Telegram, saying that police had measured the noise level and fined it for 'unacceptable noise.' He stated that this 'is not limited to Tel Sheva': according to him, police across the country are applying the policy he introduced regarding violations related to mosque noise. Ben-Gvir claims that the issue had been ignored for decades and that since taking office he has changed the policy. 'Although the situation is not yet ideal and there is room for improvement, we are undoubtedly moving in the right direction,' he added.

Election context and the Arab parties' complaint

The actions come amid intensifying competition between Israeli parties ahead of the election scheduled for October 27. Arab parties accuse Ben-Gvir of using measures against the Arab community for pre-election purposes and to intimidate Arab voters. In recent weeks, Ben-Gvir has also highlighted the demolition of Arab homes in Israel in his campaign. On Sunday, the United Arab List — an alliance of three parties — announced the filing of an urgent complaint with the head of the Central Elections Committee against Ben-Gvir, his party Jewish Power, the police and Israel's land law-enforcement authorities. The alliance demands that, in its words, politically motivated demolitions and evictions in Arab communities not be used for campaigning.

The alliance's claims and the call for turnout

According to the complaint, Ben-Gvir published a video of the demolition of a residential building in the At-Tur neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, posing next to bulldozers and police officers and boasting that 'government bulldozers never stop.' The alliance also accused the authorities of reviving eviction cases that had not been enforced for more than two decades, with enforcement dates coinciding with election day. It demanded that Ben-Gvir and his party be barred from using demolitions and evictions in campaigning, and that the police and law-enforcement authorities be barred from providing personnel and equipment for this. 'Ben-Gvir must be stopped so that he does not turn the demolition of Arab families' homes into election campaign material,' the alliance said. It also accused Ben-Gvir and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to carry out demolitions and evictions before and during the election in order to sow fear, discourage the desire to participate in voting and suppress turnout in Arab communities, and called on Arab Israelis to come out for the October 27 election. Arab citizens make up about 20% of Israel's population of more than 10 million people and have long complained of discriminatory policies, especially under the current Netanyahu government.