Haredi parties accuse Smotrich of using Finance Ministry opinions to torpedo Torah Study Basic Law

A senior Haredi party official told N12 that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is deliberately using Finance Ministry cost estimates to block the Basic Law: Torah Study, which would enshrine yeshiva exemptions from military service. The official said Smotrich told allies he would 'torpedo it through the clerks' and then deny responsibility.

Haredi parties have accused Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of deliberately using Finance Ministry professional opinions to block the Basic Law: Torah Study. A senior Haredi official told N12 that Smotrich said he would 'torpedo it through the clerks' and then deny responsibility, citing the ministry's cost estimates as a tool used only against Haredi budgets.

The accusation comes hours after Smotrich attacked his own ministry's legal adviser over the same cost estimate, calling it 'sheer ignorance' and insisting the law would not cost a shekel, as The Zioneer reported earlier today at 16:52 Jerusalem. The Haredi claim suggests the estimate was not a neutral assessment but a deliberate move to scuttle the bill.

The Basic Law: Torah Study, which would enshrine military service exemptions for yeshiva students, has been a central coalition flashpoint. Smotrich, who was originally a signatory to the bill, has since opposed it, drawing accusations of hypocrisy. The Haredi parties have been pressing for a plenum vote.

The report is based on a single source, N12, and has not been confirmed by Smotrich's office. The deepening internal coalition crisis over the bill continues to escalate.

3 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 18:05 · 5 JulLatest

   Smotrich allegedly told allies he would torpedo the law via clerks.

2. 18:03 · 5 Jul

   Haredi officials accuse Smotrich of intentionally using ministry clerks to block legislation.

3. 16:52 · 5 Jul

   Smotrich attacks his own ministry's legal adviser over Torah-study Basic Law cost estimate

• Strong17:12 · 8 JunSmotrich opposes ultra-Orthodox Torah-study Basic Law bill
• Developing19:36 · 10 JunSmotrich revealed as original sponsor of Basic Law: Torah Study
• Developing23:04 · 20 JunSmotrich says he hopes Haredim will 'correct' course on enlistment
• Developing19:33 · 28 JunMK Moshe Tur-Paz says Torah study bill is 'a desecration of Torah', will study without exemption

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