The Knesset Committee on Sunday began a week-long marathon of hearings on the Basic Law: Torah Study, a bill that would give constitutional status to the principle of full-time Torah study. The first session is being streamed live on the Knesset Channel.
The Knesset Committee on Sunday opened a marathon series of hearings on the Basic Law: Torah Study, as the coalition pushes to advance the legislation. The first session, live on the Knesset Channel, marks the start of a week-long debate — the most intensive stage yet on a bill that would enshrine full-time Torah study as a constitutionally protected value.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Sunday, the committee convened at 10:00 AM with the coalition aiming for a first-reading vote by Wednesday. The current session extends that initial meeting into what one source described as a week-long legislative sprint.
The bill has drawn sharp criticism from secular and reservist groups, who argue it effectively equates Torah study with military service without the obligations of IDF service. Haredi parties, for their part, have insisted that the law must include explicit equal-status language — a demand that remains a point of contention. Earlier this month, MK Moshe Gafni (Degel HaTorah) threatened to walk out if the committee could not give a binding commitment, calling it a matter of trust.
The marathon format — a busier-than-usual hearing schedule — suggests the coalition is seeking to overcome procedural obstacles and deliver a legislative result to its Haredi partners. The hearings come amid broader political negotiations over draft exemptions and coalition stability.
4 developments
- StrongGafni: Torah study was the 'anchor of salvation' for the Jewish people in exile
- StrongGafni demands binding commitment from Knesset Committee before Torah Study Basic Law vote
- StrongNetanyahu meets Gafni to secure votes for Torah Study Basic Law
- StrongKnesset Committee approves transfer of Torah Study Basic Law; legal adviser opposes
Source and signal
- Internal intake