JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Knesset on Wednesday approved in a preliminary reading the new Western Wall bill proposed by Noam party chairman MK Avi Maoz, with the support of 56 members of Knesset and 47 opposing.

The proposal stipulates that any conduct at holy sites that contradicts the rulings of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel will be considered desecration of the site, a criminal offense punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.

The bill will be transferred to committee preparation ahead of its first reading. However, the legislation has sparked controversy, mainly over whether it will also apply to the Temple Mount.

MK Maoz rejected claims that Jewish visits to the Temple Mount would be criminalized, stating that the argument is baseless because the Temple Mount does not appear on the list of holy sites under the Chief Rabbinate’s authority.

In contrast, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told members of his faction that the law would indeed apply to the Mount. “This is a huge law that will enable further dramatic changes on the Temple Mount,” he said.

Ben-Gvir added: “If the Western Wall law passes and the Temple Mount is certainly considered a holy site according to the rulings, this means schools for Arabs on the Mount would automatically be stopped, football games halted, and historic changes made.”

The Beyadenu organization stated: “We call on Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Constitution Committee Chairman MK Rothman to honor their commitment and ensure the law does not harm Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount. Contrary to claims, the High Court of Justice currently includes the Mount on the list of holy places, which could pave the way for halting Jewish visits and defining them as desecration. We will stand firm against any harm to the Jewish people’s right to ascend their holiest site.”

Coalition sources who spoke with Maariv clarified that there is no intention to make Jewish visits to the Temple Mount a criminal offense, and that if necessary, this will be explicitly clarified in the wording of the law.

Among the options being considered: changing the definition so that desecration would be determined according to Orthodox halachic law rather than the rulings of the Chief Rabbinate.