From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Controversial Torah study Basic Law returned to Knesset agenda after brief removal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela 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 has been restored to the Knesset agenda after being removed earlier today without explanation, reviving plans for a first-reading vote in the plenum.
The bill is being promoted by the ultra-Orthodox parties as part of their broader effort to preserve broad exemptions from military service for yeshiva students.
It had briefly disappeared from the agenda amid speculation that the coalition lacked sufficient support to advance it amid internal dissent, including from lawmakers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party.
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