Ministerial committee approves Torah Study bill amid coalition tensions

Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation has approved a bill that would enshrine Torah study into basic law, a move championed by the country's ultra-Orthodox parties. The legislation, advanced by Shas leader Aryeh Deri, is a condition for his party's lawmakers to support coalition votes. This development has ignited sharp criticism from within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition and from opposition leaders.

Critics, including former prime minister Naftali Bennett, have slammed the proposal. Bennett called it an "exemption law on steroids" and a "desecration of the Torah and a desecration of the honor of IDF soldiers." The Israel Defense Forces has repeatedly warned of an urgent manpower shortage, with the IDF Chief of Staff stating in March that the army could collapse without a solution. The ultra-Orthodox parties have consistently pushed for legislation that avoids increasing Haredi enlistment.

“

the government was now advancing “an exemption law on steroids.”

The bill's advancement is reportedly part of an emerging deal between Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties. This agreement aims to push the election date to October 20, from September, in exchange for advancing the legislation. In a separate but related decision, the Knesset's Finance Committee approved a bill changing daycare subsidy eligibility to be based solely on a mother's income, which critics argue could subsidize parents of draft evaders.

“

Bill is desecration of the Torah and a desecration of the honor of IDF soldiers who are currently fighting in Lebanon.