[80424] Basic Law: Torah Study Storm: The Haredi parties demand expedited legislation

[80424] Basic Law: Torah Study Storm: The Haredi parties demand expedited legislation

The Haredi pressure to advance the 'Basic Law: Torah Study'

In the final days before the dissolution of the Knesset, the demand of the Haredi parties - United Torah Judaism and Shas - has resurfaced to bring the 'Basic Law: Torah Study' to a final vote. According to Degel HaTorah, the party is demanding that the coalition advance the law as soon as possible and bring it to a vote in the second and third readings, based on the perception that study is a fundamental and important value "for the existence of the Jewish people and the State of Israel," as noted in Daphna Liel's report.

In Political Arena it was noted that the goal of the law, according to the Haredi parties' view, is to grant Torah study a constitutional status that will override the value of equality and IDF service, thereby preventing the Supreme Court from having the ability to mandate equal conscription. Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri emphasized in Politics Updates that this is a "supreme value" that must be enshrined in a Basic Law, especially in these days.

However, not all commentators view the timing of the move favorably. In News in Real Time, commentator Yishai Cohen raised questions regarding the seriousness of the demand, as according to him, the Haredi parties themselves backed the shelving of the bill for years in the past. Cohen cast doubt on the sincerity of the move, which is occurring "two and a half days before the dissolution of the Knesset," and argued that it is a political maneuver that does not reflect a real demand for change, but rather an attempt to demonstrate action to their constituency.