Israeli Knesset Begins Five-Day Legislative Marathon Ahead of October 2026 Elections

The Israeli Knesset convened on Monday at noon to begin an unprecedented five-day legislative marathon set to continue until Friday morning. This session marks the final legislative push by the current coalition before the Knesset dissolves ahead of the scheduled elections on October 27, 2026. The first bill up for a vote is the Basic Law on Torah Study, presented in a softened version that recognizes Torah study as a fundamental value of the Jewish heritage, after removing the controversial "balance of justice" clause. The coalition needs a majority of 61 members to pass this Basic Law.

Later in the week, the Knesset will vote on the Detentions Law, initiated by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, which aims to freeze arrest proceedings for 90 days. The ultra-Orthodox parties hope that passing both laws will prevent the detention of Torah students until a new government is formed. The Detentions Law narrowly passed the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee with an 8-7 vote.

In parallel, the coalition plans to advance the Communications Law proposed by Minister Shlomo Karhi and legislation to weaken the role of the Government Legal Adviser. However, the ultra-Orthodox factions have insisted that their bills take precedence on the agenda before other coalition legislation proceeds.

Additionally, Shas is promoting a Kashrut Law to repeal the kosher certification reform introduced by former Minister Matan Kahana. This reform, which allowed private kosher certification bodies to enter the market, sparked significant controversy among the ultra-Orthodox community, who view it as undermining the authority of the Chief Rabbinate.

This legislative marathon occurs against the backdrop of preparations for the upcoming elections, which will be the first held on schedule in 38 years and mark the first full-term government completion in 53 years. The Knesset is expected to dissolve by the weekend, concluding this intense legislative period.