Degel HaTorah and Shas issued a joint statement Thursday evening clarifying that they will not accept any changes to the core of the Basic Law: Torah Study. The remaining section, they said, is 'the heart of the law.' However, the Haredi factions indicated that additional sections could be advanced in separate legislation, according to a report by Eli Hirshman (N12).
Degel HaTorah and Shas issued a joint statement Thursday evening reiterating their refusal to change the core of the Basic Law: Torah Study. The remaining section, they said, is 'the heart of the law.' The Haredi factions also indicated that additional sections could be advanced in separate legislation, according to a report by Eli Hirshman (N12).
The statement echoes positions the parties have held since Tuesday, July 7, when the story thread began. At 20:42 Jerusalem that evening, the Haredi parties first rejected a declarative-only version of the law, then Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed a declarative-only version, which Degel HaTorah opposed while Shas deliberated. By 20:43, the parties were leaning toward accepting the proposal to drop the operative Section 2, and Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz reached an agreement to delete that section. Later that same evening, Degel HaTorah and Shas issued a joint statement confirming they would limit the law to its first declarative clause and reject Likud additions. On Thursday morning, the Degel HaTorah-affiliated daily Yated Ne'eman reported the party's opposition to changes, and at 16:42 Jerusalem the parties issued another joint statement rejecting Likud additions on rabbinic instruction.
As The Zioneer reported on Thursday morning, Degel HaTorah had warned that coalition legislation could be blocked over the issue. The thread has been characterized by consistent rabbinic backing for a short, declarative law, with the Haredi factions repeatedly rejecting attempts by Netanyahu and Likud to add operative sections.
It remains unclear whether the offer to advance additional sections in separate legislation will satisfy Netanyahu and Likud, or whether the coalition will be able to advance the Basic Law in its current form without further friction.
7 developments
- DevelopingDegel HaTorah Opposes Changes to Torah Study Basic Law, Warns Coalition Legislation May Be Blocked
- DevelopingShas and Degel HaTorah deny any deal with Prime Minister Netanyahu
- DevelopingShas and Degel HaTorah Torah Study Basic Law bills diverge in Knesset vote schedule
- StrongMinisterial committee approves Basic Law: Torah Study; Haredi parties call it merely declarative without equal-status clause
Source and signal
- Internal intake