Shas and United Torah Judaism threaten Knesset dissolution unless draft-related bills advance

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism lawmaker Moshe Gafni said they told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that their parties want immediate action on two bills tied to ultra-Orthodox conscription. In a joint statement, they said they relayed a “clear and unequivocal” demand from leading rabbis to advance a Basic Law on Torah study and a bill to stop arrests of Torah students.

According to the statement, they asked that the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Knesset Committee be convened this week to move the legislation forward. They warned that if they do not see concrete steps as requested, they will support dissolving the Knesset as early as next week.

The statement said Netanyahu told them in the meeting that he is committed to passing the laws and will work to advance them quickly. The ultimatum comes amid ongoing political pressure over the status of Torah students and the government’s handling of draft-related legislation.