MK Moshe Gafni (Degel HaTorah), presenting the Basic Law: Torah Study at the Knesset plenum for its first reading, said there is 'shallowness in Torah study' and that the state must protect 'the thing that holds us together as a people.' The bill would grant constitutional status to Torah study, equating it with national service.
MK Moshe Gafni (Degel HaTorah) presented the Basic Law: Torah Study at the Knesset plenum on Wednesday evening for its first reading, declaring that "there is shallowness in Torah study" and that the state must protect "the thing that holds us together as a people." The presentation follows the plenum's having opened debate on the bill at 17:44 Jerusalem, as The Zioneer reported at that time.
The bill has been advancing rapidly. On Tuesday, the Knesset Committee approved it, as The Zioneer reported at 15:22 Jerusalem; earlier that day, Haredi parties pressed Prime Minister Netanyahu to bring it to a vote, as reported at 09:24 Jerusalem. The legislation, which would grant constitutional status to Torah study and equate it with military and national service, has drawn criticism from secular and centrist factions and from some of Israel's allies, who argue it undermines universal service. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, the proposal triggered criticism from nations once considered allies.
The final vote on the first reading was still underway as of the time of reporting. Earlier reports that the bill had been stripped of the clause equating Torah study with military service — reported at 17:44 Jerusalem — were not confirmed in Gafni's remarks or in the current text before the plenum at the time of this dispatch.
4 developments
- DevelopingKnesset Committee erupts in heated debate over Torah Study Basic Law and draft crisis
- DevelopingMK Moshe Tur-Paz says Torah study bill is 'a desecration of Torah', will study without exemption
- DevelopingMK Stern: new Torah study Basic Law worse than first draft
- DevelopingProposed Basic Law equating Torah study with national service draws fire from allies
Source and signal
- Internal intake