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Thursday, June 25, 2026
Knesset to hold marathon discussions next week to fast-track Basic Law on Torah study
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.
The Knesset House Committee will hold three marathon sessions next week to advance the coalition’s controversial proposed Basic Law to declare Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel. The bill is being promoted by the ultra-Orthodox parties to shield draft evaders from sanctions and prosecution.
The revised bill drops language from an earlier draft that equated full-time Torah study with military service by describing it as a “significant service” to the state, after widespread criticism, including by some coalition lawmakers, that it effectively placed draft evaders on the same footing as soldiers and reservists.
However, the bill’s underlying purpose remains unchanged. The revised draft states that recognizing Torah study as a foundational value is intended to create “a just balance with respect to other foundational values.” Its explanatory notes, also unchanged, make clear that the legislation’s goal is to address the legal obstacles created by High Court rulings striking down draft exemptions for yeshiva students.
In a letter sent to House Committee members, Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik urges lawmakers to adhere to an “especially high” standard of legislative procedure as they “accelerate” the bill through multiple marathon sessions next week.
She reiterates her opposition to transferring the bill from the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee to the House Committee, a step taken last week, arguing that bypassing the committee responsible for constitutional legislation creates “defects and harm to the legislative process” that cannot be remedied.
The legislation is being advanced amid reports of a deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties to promote some of their legislative agenda in exchange for supporting coalition priorities, though both Shas and United Torah Judaism have denied such an agreement.
The coalition has pulled all legislation from its Knesset agenda for two weeks due to a boycott by the Haredi parties, initially prompted by the coalition’s refusal to advance the so-called Daycare Law, to restore daycare subsidies for the children of draft evaders. The boycott has since grown to encompass other Haredi conscription-related demands.
Time is running short to pass the legislation before the Knesset is expected to enter its pre-election parliamentary recess on July 16.
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