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Monday, June 22, 2026
Knesset House Committee to take over discussions on Basic Law on Torah study after Rothman’s request
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Following a request from Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), the Knesset House Committee votes to take over deliberations on a controversial proposed Basic Law declaring Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel.
Writing to coalition whip and House Committee chairman Ofir Katz (Likud) on Sunday, Rothman requested transferring the bill, as well as another dealing with the appointment of senior officials, to the House Committee in light of his panel’s heavy workload and the limited amount of time before the upcoming elections.
This move has sparked speculation — including by a senior Haredi political figure who spoke with The Times of Israel — that Rothman’s Religious Zionism party is seeking to distance itself from the legislation, which is unpopular with its base, and shift the burden to a committee controlled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.
Asked about his motivation, Rothman replies in a WhatsApp message that “the reason is that I simply don’t have time in the committee. I am splitting [the role of the] attorney general and they are going to bring me two more Basic Laws that I don’t know how I’m going to manage.”
Addressing lawmakers, United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni, demands assurances that a committee change does not spell the end of the legislation.
“I have had my fill of promises during this term. Therefore, if the committee approves transferring the bill from the Constitution Committee to the Knesset Committee, I, as the sponsor of the bill, would like to know, even before the discussions begin, whether you intend to advance and approve it. I am notifying you unequivocally: I do not intend to be humiliated once again. I have had enough of unfulfilled promises,” he says.
Asked for a legal opinion, Knesset Legal Advisor Sagit Afik replies that the proper forum for the bill is Rothman’s committee, arguing that “a proper legislative process means that the competent committee should debate it. Pressure and a heavy workload on a committee do not, in my view, override the importance of legislating through a proper process.”
The Knesset voted 56-43 in favor of the preliminary reading of the bill earlier this month. As passed in its preliminary reading, the bill declared Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel, and effectively equated it with military service. Last week, the Knesset House Committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for preparation for the first of three additional readings needed for it to pass into law.
According to reports, an updated draft of the bill has removed wording referring to the benefits granted to yeshiva students and directly equating full-time Torah study to military service by referring to it as a “significant service.”
However, the Haredi parties do not believe that the wording change will make a substantive difference to their aim of passing a bill allowing yeshiva students to avoid conscription that will not be struck down by the High Court of Justice.
The Times of Israel Community.