Netanyahu and Ultra-Orthodox Deal Nears Completion Without Legislative Fast-Tracking
As the Knesset approaches its final week before dissolution, it plans to pass six advanced bills in second and third readings, some debated extensively just yesterday. However, for the first time, the customary "clean-up" session, where broadly agreed-upon bills are passed consecutively to clear the legislative pipeline, will not take place. This decision aims to prioritize controversial coalition bills, including the Communications Law, a bill weakening the Attorney General, freezing arrests of draft dodgers, and the Basic Law on Torah Study, which has been heavily discussed recently. Skipping the "clean-up" is expected to delay many bills intended to assist the public.
Intense negotiations took place yesterday with Rabbi Dov Lando, leader of Degel HaTorah, who agreed to soften the Basic Law on Torah Study on one condition: a legal opinion ensuring the updated, symbolic text would still legally protect ultra-Orthodox interests, including draft exemptions. This followed Likud's demand to keep the law mainly declarative and symbolic. Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox rabbis have set their next goal: passing the bill to freeze arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, a move aimed at calming tensions ahead of the upcoming elections. Notably, Channel 13 revealed that police have already changed their policy, with no proactive arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers in the past two weeks.
Earlier, coalition chairman MK Ofir Katz announced an agreement with ultra-Orthodox parties to promote the Basic Law on Torah Study after removing Section 2, known as the "Justice Balancer," which could have affected yeshiva funding, exemptions, and gender segregation. Likud warned that retaining this practical section would kill the bill. The ultra-Orthodox parties subsequently conceded, agreeing the law would only include the first and main clause declaring "Torah study as a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people." They emphasized this clause is the law's core purpose. In a joint statement, Shas and Degel HaTorah said they rejected attempts by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud to add new sections not in the original draft and suggested any additional provisions be pursued through separate legislation, not within the Basic Law on Torah Study.
