Coalition Chair Reaches Deal with Ultra-Orthodox Parties to Limit Basic Law on Torah Study

Ophir Katz, the coalition chairman, has reached an agreement with the ultra-Orthodox parties regarding the Basic Law on Torah Study. Under the deal, Article 2, which aimed to balance competing values, will be removed from the proposed legislation. Representatives from the Degel HaTorah and Shas parties stated that after Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Likud party sought to add new provisions not in the original draft, they made it clear they would not agree to alter the law's core intent. They emphasized that any additional clauses should be pursued through separate legislation. Consequently, the law will only include the primary clause declaring Torah study as a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people.