Knesset Committee Takes Up Torah Study Basic Law Despite Legal Objections

The Knesset House Committee voted Monday to take over deliberations on the Basic Law on Torah Study from the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, defying Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik. Afik argued that such a fundamental Basic Law must remain with the Constitution Committee, and said workload pressures do not justify moving it, especially on a matter involving the state’s character and equality.

The bill, submitted by MK Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism, passed a preliminary reading about two weeks ago and was initially sent to the Constitution Committee, the panel normally responsible for Basic Laws. The transfer comes as ultra-Orthodox parties push to pass it before the Knesset is dissolved in about four weeks. The proposal seeks to recognize Torah scholars as significant contributors to the state, a move that would open the door to sweeping army draft exemptions.

Afik warned that shifting the bill to a committee that does not handle Basic Laws creates a serious procedural problem. She said any process there must be especially careful, with full hearing of different viewpoints and no time pressure. She added that Dr. Gur Blye, the legal adviser to the Constitution Committee, would continue to accompany the legislation after the transfer. Gafni countered that the issue belongs with the Knesset itself and said the Constitution Committee chairman told him he had no time to handle it.

Behind the move is coalition pressure to satisfy the ultra-Orthodox without breaking the bloc made up of Likud, right-wing factions and the Haredi parties. But the Religious Zionism party, represented by Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman, opposes the bill. Gafni said he was tired of broken promises from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wanted clarity on whether the bill would actually advance. Opposition MKs sharply attacked the plan, with Merav Ben Ari asking why Gafni trusts Netanyahu, Panina Tamano-Shata calling the law a disgrace, Yoav Segalovich saying there is no reason to move it, and Oded Forer accusing the bill’s backers of dishonoring fallen soldiers.