Israeli Parliament Passes Basic Law on Torah Study Amid Opposition and Reservists' Outcry

On Monday evening, the Israeli Knesset approved the Basic Law on Torah Study in its second and third readings, sparking fierce opposition from political rivals and reservist families. The Movement for Quality Government filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to annul and freeze the law's implementation. The Forum of Reservists' Wives condemned the law, stating it burdens reservists' families alone by facilitating exemptions from military service, thereby deepening inequality. They criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and other lawmakers for voting in favor despite being aware of the consequences.

Giladi Rand, a leader of the Religious Zionist Reservists Forum, expressed frustration over the growing military burden he faces, accusing political figures like Bezalel Smotrich, Likud, and Itamar Ben-Gvir of neglecting reservists' sacrifices. Opposing voices from the "Partnership for Service" forum echoed similar concerns, highlighting that the law is based on flawed assumptions about yeshiva students. Meanwhile, opposition leaders including Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eizenkot, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Lieberman condemned the law as anti-Zionist and harmful to Israel's security, promising to repeal it in the next government.

In contrast, ultra-Orthodox parties celebrated the law as a historic milestone recognizing the supreme value of Torah study and its central role in Jewish identity and the State of Israel. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri called it a victory for the Torah world and a rebuke to those who sought to undermine yeshiva students. United Torah Judaism leaders described the law as correcting a longstanding absurdity and reaffirming Torah study as a foundational national value. MK Moshe Gafni emphasized that the law will serve as a moral compass for the state.

However, Gafni also announced he would withhold support for any coalition legislation until a bill freezing arrests of draft dodgers passes. The law's passage highlights the ongoing political and societal struggle over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men and the broader debate about equality and national burden-sharing in Israel.