The Knesset Committee convened Sunday for a stormy debate on the Basic Law: Torah Study bill, with lawmakers trading sharp accusations over draft evasion and national service. MK Yitzhak Goldknopf (Yahadut HaTorah) sparked outcry by telling MK Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beiteinu) that "the draft dodgers you speak of live in Tel Aviv."
The Knesset Committee on Sunday held a heated session on the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, marking another flashpoint in the prolonged coalition crisis over military draft exemptions for yeshiva students. The debate featured sharp exchanges across party lines, reflecting deep divisions over the bill's content and its implications for the broader Israeli public.
MK Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beiteinu) pressed the ultra-Orthodox factions on the value of mutual responsibility and solidarity in wartime. In response, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf (Yahadut HaTorah) told Nir that draft dodgers live in Tel Aviv — a comment that triggered uproar in the committee room.
MK Dan Illouz (Likud) delivered a stinging critique of his own coalition, calling the bill "not just a spit in the face of the public we are supposed to represent — but a true desecration of God's name." Illouz questioned how a Religious Zionist lawmaker could support a bill that implies one person's Torah is worth less than another's. MK Yossi Taieb (Shas) defended the legislation, arguing that weakening the voice of Torah study would cause Israel to lose its identity even if it wins battles.
The bill, which would enshrine Torah study as a constitutional value equivalent to military service, has already passed a preliminary Knesset reading (56-43) earlier this month, according to The Zioneer's prior reporting. The coalition aims to advance it toward a first reading by Wednesday, though internal opposition from Likud and National Unity lawmakers continues to cloud its path. The discussion remains open as coalition leaders seek to bridge gaps before the next procedural votes.
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