Coalition revises Torah study Basic Law ahead of legislative push

MKs Moshe Gafni, Yaakov Asher and Yitzhak Pindrus of United Torah Judaism's Degel HaTorah faction submitted a revised version of the Basic Law: Torah Study on Thursday. The new draft removes a clause that had directly compared Torah study with military service and described Torah study as the state's “greatest value.” In its place, the bill says only that the state “sees value in Torah study” and will work to encourage it.

The change came after objections from figures in Likud and Religious Zionism, who opposed the earlier wording. The revised text is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deal with the ultra-Orthodox parties, which is expected to move forward next week in a marathon of committee hearings.

The arrangement gives the ultra-Orthodox what they most need right now, time. It also matters to Netanyahu, whose ties with U.S. President Donald Trump have deteriorated, while several fronts remain active, Iran continues to grow stronger and Likud is polling at around 20 seats. At the same time, he is hoping to showcase legislative wins, including the communications bill, the split of the attorney general’s role, and a committee of inquiry bill.

The Basic Law: Torah Study has already passed its preliminary reading. The coalition also wants to advance changes to the draft exemption framework, but the most urgent issue for the ultra-Orthodox is stopping arrests of yeshiva students and married students in yeshivot, even if financial sanctions remain. That goal faces legal difficulties because the relevant draft bill was not part of the previous Knesset’s continuity motion.