Degel HaTorah Leader Gafni Rejects Any Changes to Basic Law on Torah Study

Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah faction, delivered a firm message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, stating he will not agree to any alterations in the wording of the Basic Law on Torah Study. Gafni emphasized that the version agreed upon in their recent joint meeting is the one that must pass in the Knesset’s second and third readings without changes.

This ultimatum comes amid rising tensions between the ultra-Orthodox parties and Netanyahu regarding the legislation. A few days earlier, Gafni and Aryeh Deri, leader of Shas, met with Netanyahu demanding swift advancement of both the Basic Law on Torah Study and the Detentions Law, with a clear commitment from Netanyahu to secure a majority for their passage. They warned that failure to advance these laws immediately could lead the ultra-Orthodox factions to call for the Knesset’s dissolution.

The Knesset committee discussions on the Basic Law have been intense, with legal advisors from several government ministries highlighting ambiguities in the bill’s text and potential financial and rights-related consequences for Torah students. One significant issue raised was the National Insurance premium exemption for yeshiva students, which was halted in January following a Supreme Court ruling. Roee Keret, legal advisor to the National Insurance Institute, noted that if the law passes, there could be claims to reinstate this benefit, estimated to cost around 100 million shekels annually.

Knesset legal counsel Shagit Afik clarified that the practical impact of the law remains uncertain and suggested that if lawmakers intend the law to be declarative, its wording should be amended to clearly state its purpose as establishing Torah study as a fundamental value.

In parallel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi, sent a dramatic letter to Aryeh Deri urging no delays or risks to the law’s passage and stressing the importance of supporting the current wording. He also called for urgent resolution of kashrut issues to protect the Jewish people from consuming non-kosher food.

The ultra-Orthodox parties have also linked their support for splitting the Attorney General’s role to receiving clear commitments on advancing these laws. Meanwhile, the Detentions Law, aimed at ending the detention of Torah students, has yet to have its text circulated, delaying its progress.