Legislative Push to Enshrine Torah Study
The Israeli Knesset voted 63 to 53 on Wednesday to advance a contentious bill that would codify Torah study as a fundamental value in the nation’s Basic Law. Sponsored by United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni, the measure gained momentum after haredi party leaders threatened to boycott coalition votes and disrupt the legislative agenda to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to rapidly advance a series of haredi-backed bills.
Constitutional Protections and Draft Evasion
The bill faces intense scrutiny from the Movement for Quality Government and opposition leaders, who characterize the proposal as a tactical maneuver to shield yeshiva students from military conscription. Although the current text excludes language explicitly equating religious study with military service, critics maintain it serves as a constitutional shield against military service. Deputy Attorney-General Avital Sompolinsky offered a stark assessment to the Knesset House Committee on Tuesday, warning that the bill’s purpose was unclear and that it appeared that the place of the haredi community in Israeli society was not properly balanced.
The IDF Manpower Crisis
This legislative maneuver unfolds as the military faces a severe personnel shortage. In March, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir cautioned that the IDF could soon collapse if no solution was found for the manpower shortage. The political move also comes after the High Court of Justice ruled in April that the state take concrete steps to revoke key financial benefits from draft evaders and to move toward criminal enforcement against haredi men who evade military service.
Fractures Within the Coalition
Internal dissent has emerged within Netanyahu’s own ranks. Likud MKs Dan Illouz and Yuli Edelstein have joined Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel (New Hope-United Right) and Moshe Solomon (Religious Zionist Party) in public opposition. Despite this resistance, the Prime Minister was seen speaking to Shas party leader Arye Deri and other haredi lawmakers on the plenum floor immediately preceding the vote.
The Political Fallout
Opposition figures have framed the bill as a dereliction of national duty. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who leads the Together Party, vowed to repeal the law should his bloc win the next government, arguing that partisan interests are being placed above national security. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, echoed this sentiment, calling the bill a “direct blow to our national backbone” at a moment when the burden on those who serve is reaching record levels.
The Path to Final Passage
The bill requires two additional readings to become law. It now returns to the Knesset House Committee, where marathon meetings were scheduled to fast-track the legislation. The Movement for Quality Government has already signaled its intent to petition the High Court of Justice to strike the measure down should it proceed. Time is short: the current legislative cycle is the last Knesset session before the upcoming elections, which must occur no later than October 27.