Shas and Degel HaTorah issued a joint statement Thursday afternoon, on the instruction of their rabbinic leaders, categorically rejecting any changes or new sections to the Basic Law: Torah Study requested by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud. The Haredi factions said the law will remain short and include only a declarative clause establishing Torah study as a central value of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
This afternoon (Thursday), Shas and Degel HaTorah issued a joint statement on the instruction of their rabbinic leaders, categorically rejecting any additions or changes to the Basic Law: Torah Study requested by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud. The parties stated that the law will be limited to a single declarative clause establishing Torah study as a central value of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, without additional sections. The statement comes as the coalition continues to negotiate the legislation, and follows a series of reports on the parties' stance.
The sequence of developments was reported by The Zioneer on Tuesday evening at 20:43 Jerusalem. Initial reports indicated that the Haredi parties had rejected a declarative-only version (v1). Shortly thereafter, Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed a declarative-only version, which Degel HaTorah rejected while Shas deliberated (v2). The parties then leaned toward accepting the proposal (v3), Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz reached an agreement to delete Section 2 (v4), and finally the joint statement was issued confirming the law would include only the first section (v5). The statement at that time was attributed to a party source and later confirmed by the official statement.
The Basic Law: Torah Study has been a central point of contention in the coalition. As The Zioneer reported, previous attempts to pass the law failed in late June when Shas and United Torah Judaism absented themselves from a Knesset vote. The Haredi parties have insisted on advancing the law to secure their continued support for coalition legislation. The Degel HaTorah-affiliated newspaper Yated Ne'eman reported earlier today that the party opposes changes to the wording, signaling that the coalition legislation may be blocked.
It remains unclear whether the coalition will be able to advance the law in its current form, given the opposition from Likud to a purely declarative version. The parties have stated that additional sections can be advanced in separate legislation, but no timeline has been set.
7 developments
- DevelopingDegel HaTorah Opposes Changes to Torah Study Basic Law, Warns Coalition Legislation May Be Blocked
- DevelopingShas and Degel HaTorah deny any deal with Prime Minister Netanyahu
- DevelopingShas and Degel HaTorah Torah Study Basic Law bills diverge in Knesset vote schedule
- StrongMinisterial committee approves Basic Law: Torah Study; Haredi parties call it merely declarative without equal-status clause
Source and signal
- Internal intake