From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Coalition pulls Torah study Basic Law from Knesset agenda at last minute
Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
A proposed Basic Law declaring Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel, widely viewed as part of the ultra-Orthodox parties’ effort to preserve broad exemptions from military service for yeshiva students, has been pulled at the last minute from today’s Knesset’s agenda after initially being scheduled for its first plenum reading.
While no explanation has been given for the bill’s removal from the agenda, the move comes amid significant internal coalition opposition, including from lawmakers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, raising the possibility that the coalition lacks the votes needed to advance the measure.
The bill, which must pass two more votes in the Knesset before passing into law, was rushed through the Knesset House Committee this week in three marathon sessions, despite sharp objections from legal authorities that both the substance of the legislation and the legislative process were deeply flawed. The coalition has been seeking to pass the bill into law before the Knesset is expected to dissolve and enter its pre-election recess on July 17.
The Knesset’s legal advisers and the Attorney General’s Office have argued that the legislation raises fundamental constitutional questions that remain unresolved, including its purpose and legal implications, warning that it should not advance before those issues are addressed.
They also criticized the decision to prepare a Basic Law in the House Committee rather than the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, where such legislation would typically be discussed, calling the accelerated process inappropriate. Absent a constitution, Basic Laws in Israel have the highest legal status in the country.
The proposal has drawn fierce opposition, with critics arguing that the measure is a transparent attempt to circumvent High Court rulings requiring the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students by constitutionally entrenching Torah study to shield draft evaders from sanctions and prosecution.
The Times of Israel Community.