Resolving stalemate, Netanyahu, Haredi parties said to settle on October 20 election date

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed to the immediate advancement of the Basic Law: Torah Study and legislation halting the detention of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, the ultra-Orthodox Shas and Degel HaTorah parties claim in a joint statement following a meeting with the prime minister.

“Today we held a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conveyed to him on behalf [of our rabbinic leadership] an unequivocal demand to immediately advance the Basic Law on Torah Study and the law to stop the arrests of Torah students, by convening the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Knesset House Committee this week,” the two parties state.

“We made it clear that if we do not see practical actions as we demanded, we will support dissolving the Knesset as early as next week. The prime minister clarified during the meeting that he is committed to the approval of these laws and will work toward their rapid advancement.”

The statement does not mention the so-called Daycare Law, aimed at restoring daycare subsidies to the children of draft evaders, indicating that the Haredi parties have likely given up on legislation which until now has been one of their highest priorities.

According to the Ynet news site, the two sides agreed to hold the upcoming national election on October 20, with the Haredim also agreeing to back the coalition’s bills to split the role of the attorney general and establish a political commission of inquiry into October 7.

There is a limited amount of time to pass these bills, as the pre-election parliamentary recess is likely to begin on July 16.

Spokespeople for the prime minister do not immediately reply to The Times of Israel’s request for comment.