New Basic Law draft would recognize Torah study as a major contribution to the state

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox leaders are advancing a revised Basic Law on Torah study that would elevate it to a supreme value in Israel. Under the new wording, people who devote themselves to long-term Torah study would be regarded as having made a “significant contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.”

The change is meant to prevent judges from intervening in issues such as military enlistment and benefits for the ultra-Orthodox. The coalition backed the bill in its first reading only on the condition that it would be changed later. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had demanded that any comparison to IDF service be removed, and in the new draft the phrase “serve meaningful service” has indeed been deleted.

The article says the revised language would leave the courts unable to weigh in on enlistment and related disputes. It also notes that for the ultra-Orthodox, the amendment is viewed as largely preserving the same outcome, even if the wording has changed.

In parallel, Shas and party leader Aryeh Deri are pushing another change to the draft-exemption law, aimed at preventing the arrest of draft evaders. The proposed amendment would effectively shield them from detention in the near term.