Less than a day after the law to reduce reasonableness passed its second and third readings, there is already a new law on Sunday that is stirring up the political system.
Netanyahu's office attacked the timing and appealed to Torah Judaism Chairman MK Moshe Gafni: "There is no reason to raise anything in such a hasty and timely manner."
Criticism was also voiced within the Torah Judaism party. The party consists of two factions – the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael (Gadolknopf Frosh Roth) and Lithuanian Torah Judaism (Gafni Maklev Asher). On the Lithuanian side, they say that the law was signed two weeks ago and the timing of its publication today does not match with them. Agudat Israel explains that they are merely putting the law in the presidency so that it will begin the process of its approval in the next session.
MK Matan Kahane wrote about the bill: "My ultra-Orthodox brothers, do you really think that yesterday was the right day to put this bill on the Knesset table? Without Torah there is no State of Israel. It's clear to me. But it is equally clear to me that this law will do enormous damage to the Torah world, enormous damage to ultra-Orthodox society and enormous damage to the State of Israel. The power is now in your hands. Please use it responsibly."
My ultra-Orthodox brothers,
do you really think that yesterday was the right day to put this bill on the Knesset table?
Without Torah there is no State of Israel.
It's clear to me.
But it is equally clear to me that this law will do enormous damage to the Torah world, enormous damage to ultra-Orthodox society and enormous damage to the State of Israel.
The power is now in your hands.
Please use it... pic.twitter.com/41Kt2OISmD
— Matan Kahana Matan Kahane (@MatanKahana) July 25, 2023
Knesset Member Gadi Eisenkot wrote: "The submission of the Basic Law on Torah Study, or in its real name 'Bypass the Recruitment Law', following the decision made by the government last month to refrain from the comprehensive recruitment of yeshiva students, is a fatal blow to the IDF as a national people's army. The Zionist and state elements in the Knesset and outside it must work together to replace the worst government in Israel's history."
MK Amichai Shikli said of the law: "Torah study is a supreme value among the people of Israel that has never needed legislation, and so it should remain. Placing this bill on the Knesset table is harmful trolling at an unfortunate time, and the comparison to military service does not belong, is not appropriate and will not be – not in my voice."
Torah study is a supreme value among the people of Israel that has never needed legislation, and so it should remain. Placing this bill on the Knesset table is harmful trolling at an unfortunate time, and the comparison to military service does not belong, is not appropriate and will not be - not in my voice.
— Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) July 25, 2023
Participated in the preparation of this article: Ariel Kahane
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