From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Knesset advances quasi-constitutional Basic Law bill effectively equating Torah study with IDF service
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.
The Knesset votes 56-43 to advance a controversial Basic Law declaring Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel, and effectively equating the study of Torah with military service.
Sponsored by ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism lawmakers MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, and backed by the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, the quasi-constitutional measure seeks to enshrine Torah study as a foundational value of the State of Israel and recognize long-term Torah study as service to the state and the Jewish people.
The legislative effort comes amid a fierce, years-long national debate over the blanket exemptions from military service that have long been given to Haredi men. Calls for Haredi conscription have mounted as Israel has fought a multifront war since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, while ultra-Orthodox parties have sought to preserve the military service exemptions following a 2024 High Court ruling that found them unconstitutional, leading some state benefits to be curtailed.
The legislation would recognize those who dedicate themselves to long-term Torah study as performing “meaningful service” to the state that is, essentially, equivalent to army service and confers upon those engaged in it equal rights to those who serve in the army.
The measure faced opposition from several coalition lawmakers, with four ultimately voting against it: Likud MKs Dan Illouz and Yuli Edelstein, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and Religious Zionism MK Moshe Solomon.
Speaking in the Knesset on behalf of the government, Minister Ze’ev Elkin says the coalition will support the bill in subsequent readings only if language comparing Torah students to military servicemembers is removed.
“The government’s position is to support the bill, provided that the comparison between Torah scholars and those who serve is removed,” Elkin tells the plenum, adding that the legislation will be amended before its subsequent readings or “will not advance.”
According to Hebrew media reports, Arab parties Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am were absent from the vote as part of an understanding with the ultra-Orthodox parties, under which the latter have promised to block legislation backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to increase restrictions on the use of loudspeakers for calls to prayer in mosques in exchange for the Arab factions not opposing the Basic Law on Torah study.
The bill will now be sent to the Knesset House Committee, which will determine which committee will prepare it for its subsequent readings.
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