Haredi Parties Agree to Keep Basic Law on Torah Study Declarative After Intense Knesset Debate

After intense and contentious discussions in the Knesset Committee on Thursday, including confrontations with disabled veterans demanding recognition in the law, the Haredi parties Shas and Degel HaTorah reached an agreement with coalition chairman MK Ofir Katz on the wording of the Basic Law on Torah Study. The compromise centers on removing the controversial second clause, which aimed to balance Torah study as a fundamental value alongside other core values. This clause, heavily criticized in legal debates, will be deleted, leaving only the first and main clause that recognizes Torah study as a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

In a joint statement, Shas and Degel HaTorah said that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud sought to add additional clauses not in the original draft, but the Haredi factions firmly opposed altering the law’s essence. They emphasized that any new provisions should be pursued through separate legislation. The coalition chairman’s office confirmed the agreement to remove the second clause, which was the focal point of legal criticism.

The heated committee session also featured disabled veterans demanding inclusion in the law to recognize their status and contributions. Despite their demands and sharp exchanges with MKs, their requests will not be included in this Basic Law. Instead, the coalition is working on separate legislation to address the veterans’ recognition.

Following the agreement, the Knesset Committee is set to reconvene shortly to vote on the Basic Law on Torah Study and advance it to the second and third readings in the plenum. The law will thus remain declarative, affirming Torah study as a core value without the contested balancing clause.