JTA — A California lawmaker is introducing a bill that would create a buffer zone around houses of worship, the latest effort by lawmakers to respond to protests against Israel that have taken place outside synagogues.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Jewish Democrat representing a suburban district in the San Francisco Bay Area, unveiled AB 2664, dubbed the “Safe Worship Zone” bill. Backed by Jewish California, a statewide coalition of 40 Jewish groups, the proposal would establish a 100-foot zone around entrances to religious institutions in which protesters could not approach congregants within 8 feet without consent.

“AB 2664 is about protecting the dignity of every Californian who wants to practice their faith without running a gauntlet of fear just to walk through the door,” David Bocarsly, Jewish California’s executive director, said in a statement.

Supporters say the bill is needed amid a rise in antisemitism and a wave of demonstrations outside synagogues, including at Los Angeles’ Wilshire Boulevard Temple and Adas Torah. Citing an American Jewish Committee survey,........

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