Israel's 'hysterical' Torah study bill will backfire on the ultra-Orthodox, says opinion

An opinion piece in the Jerusalem Post slams Israel's proposed "Basic Law: Torah Study" as a "hysterical" move by the ruling coalition to appease Haredi political parties. The author, Uri Regev, argues that while "Torah study is a foundational value," it does not require a Basic Law, especially one that directly contradicts a Supreme Court ruling on equal conscription.

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But the truth is closer to hysterical – and it’s a sad statement as to how low Israeli politics and the legislative process have stooped.

Regev highlights that the bill is a payoff to Haredi parties, disregarding national security needs, the principle of equality, and the Supreme Court's authority. He criticizes the government's broader agenda of intimidating judges and weakening judicial independence, quoting Minister Miri Regev: "Who needs courts if we can’t control them?"

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No one disputes that “Torah study is a foundational value in the heritage of the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” as the bill’s text states. That was never in question, and it doesn’t need a law to say so, let alone a Basic Law.

The article points out that public opinion largely opposes Haredi draft dodging, with a significant portion of Likud voters considering it a factor in their vote. The bill's drafters are accused of using "doublespeak" to mask its true intent, which is to ensure continued draft evasion. Even an earlier draft's explicit mention of yeshiva students not having to serve was blurred, but the explanatory notes still reveal the law's purpose is to override the Supreme Court's ruling.

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What’s really happening is a payoff to the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) political parties, against the will of an overwhelming majority of Israelis and in direct defiance of the Supreme Court, which ruled that yeshiva students can not be exempted from drafting to the IDF.

Furthermore, Regev notes that the legislation, despite its vague language about achieving a "just balance," has potential financial ramifications estimated in the hundreds of millions. He concludes that the bill's cynical approach strays from honest lawmaking and even Judaism's core values.

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Instead, they’re busy intimidating judges and pushing legislation to weaken judicial independence and tighten political control over judicial appointments. To paraphrase what Minister Miri Regev once remarked: “Who needs courts if we can’t control them?”