Last-Minute Legislative Deals Stall Israeli Parliament's Fast-Track Schedule
Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he opposes any amendments to the Basic Law on Torah Study. Gafni insists that the law be approved in its originally agreed-upon wording from a tripartite meeting involving Netanyahu and Shas leader Aryeh Deri. This stance follows the rejection of a proposal to advance a declarative version of the Basic Law, which was discussed in the Knesset committee but opposed after legal counsel warned that a non-declarative law might require extending benefits to Torah students similar to those given to IDF soldiers.
Coalition chairman Ofir Katz responded to Gafni's position by stating that the Likud party might consider submitting reservations to the law, potentially jeopardizing its approval. The failure to pass this Basic Law could also block the approval of the Arrest Freeze Law, which depends on it.
Meanwhile, the Knesset approved the second and third readings of a bill banning fraud in kosher certification. This legislation centralizes kosher certification authority with the Chief Rabbinate Council, local rabbis authorized for this purpose, and the IDF Rabbinate, effectively eliminating private kosher certification bodies.
In parallel, the Communications Minister Shlomo Karai agreed to remove the controversial "Shabbat Desecration" app from a bill aimed at weakening the media, to secure ultra-Orthodox support. This change will send the bill back to committee before returning to the Knesset for a final vote. With approximately eight days remaining before the Knesset dissolves, there is still time for the bill's approval.
The removal of the app has significant financial implications. Content providers will be required to broadcast public-interest sports events for free, which is expected to cause severe economic harm to the Israeli Football Association, sports clubs, and team owners who currently earn tens of millions of shekels from broadcasting rights. Although consumers may not see a price drop, the financial impact on sports organizations could be substantial.
