The Finance Ministry's legal adviser issued a sharp opinion against the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, warning it would justify policies that erode equality, distort budget priorities, and undermine efforts to integrate Haredi men into the workforce and military, according to N12's Amit Segal.
The Finance Ministry's legal counsel warned Sunday that the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study would justify policies that undermine equality, disrupt government budget priorities, and risk further entrenching Haredi men's non-enlistment and non-employment. The opinion, reported by N12's Amit Segal, argues that the vaguely worded bill could be interpreted to give Torah study precedence over constitutional rights such as equality, with 'very significant' budgetary and economic consequences.
This follows an initial report at 13:57 that the same legal opinion estimated the cumulative economic cost of reserve duty since the war began at NIS 170 billion, warning the law would deepen the burden on reservists. The new details highlight concerns over the law's potential to worsen the Haredi employment crisis and reduce incentives for military service, a central flashpoint in coalition politics.
The opinion's release comes amid ongoing debate over the bill, which has drawn criticism from coalition allies and opposition alike. The Knesset has already advanced the legislation in preliminary readings, but the Finance Ministry's legal stance adds significant institutional opposition.
6 developments
- DevelopingFinance Ministry warns Torah-study Basic Law would force 16% tax hike
- DevelopingTreasury official: cumulative cost of reserve duty to Israel's economy estimated at NIS 150 billion (2023-2026)
- DevelopingIsrael's Defense Ministry seeks 40-50 billion shekel annual budget increase
- DevelopingIDF warns of continued reserve burden unless service law is fixed
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