Haredi Parties Accept Netanyahu's Compromise on Basic Law for Torah Study

Haredi political factions have agreed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal regarding the Basic Law on Torah Study, approving a streamlined version of the legislation. The original bill contained two sections: the first defined Torah study as a fundamental value of the State of Israel, while the second aimed to provide formal benefits to the Haredi community. Under the compromise, only the first section will be enacted, affirming Torah study as a core value without the additional provisions that would have strengthened the law's enforcement.

A Haredi source explained that accepting the Prime Minister's offer preserves the law's clean wording focused on Torah learners, avoiding contentious comparisons or adding enforcement mechanisms. This version is also expected to serve as a legal foundation for future legislation related to exemptions from military service for Torah students.

Despite the law's limited scope, prominent Haredi leaders such as Moshe Gafni and Aryeh Deri view the approval as a political achievement and a promise of further legislative efforts. Meanwhile, the Haredi community is prioritizing another bill currently under discussion in the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, which aims to prevent the detention of draft dodgers. Some legal experts believe that even the pared-down Basic Law on Torah Study will support the defense of this forthcoming legislation against anticipated Supreme Court petitions.