Opposition whip Merav Ben-Ari (Yesh Atid) commented on the Basic Law: Torah Study bill submitted by Shas and linked to MK Moshe Gafni's proposal, which was then removed from the Knesset agenda. "Let them vote — one who studies Torah is like an IDF soldier," she said, in a remark that appeared to challenge religious-secular divisions over the bill. The bill's floor timetable remains unclear after its removal.
Opposition whip Merav Ben-Ari (Yesh Atid) weighed in Wednesday evening on the Basic Law: Torah Study dispute as the bill was pulled from the Knesset agenda. Ben-Ari, whose role coordinates coalition pressure tactics, issued what appeared to be a deliberately provocative framing: "Let them vote — one who studies Torah is like an IDF soldier," effectively daring coalition members who oppose the bill to vote against it. The remark came after Shas submitted the bill and linked it to a related proposal by MK Moshe Gafni (Degel HaTorah), but the legislation was then removed from the day's agenda without a clear explanation. The move's procedural effect — and when the bill might return — remained unclear.
As The Zioneer reported, the Basic Law: Torah Study has already passed a preliminary Knesset vote (June 10) and was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation (June 9), but faced internal coalition friction. A June 30 Knesset committee vote advanced the bill for first reading amid opposition protests. The bill's supporters — mainly Shas and United Torah Judaism — have called it declarative without a clause equating Torah study with military service, while critics including former prime minister Naftali Bennett have labeled it institutionalized draft evasion. Ben-Ari's statement, coming from the opposition's coordination role, appeared aimed at putting coalition unity to a public test.
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