The coalition is expected to approve the 'Basic Law: Torah Study' in first reading tomorrow (Wednesday), which now also has the support of the Religious Zionist Party - but behind the scenes, political drama has unfolded.
In an exclusive recording revealed this evening by Amiel Yarhi on Channel i24 from a closed conference of religious Zionist yeshiva directors, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is heard admitting that he opposed the original version of the law - and even threatened to take the extreme step of resigning from the government and returning to his position as a Knesset member, in order to vote against the Haredi initiative.
Smotrich recounts the struggle over the law: "We had a demand to remove from the law any discourse and comparison between Torah and the army, or any kind of donation, etc., or anything that implies that studying Torah exempts one from military service. This contradicts 180 degrees all of the... I said about it, I will come myself and I can resign in order to become a member of Knesset and vote against it.".
The minister added: "We won, and every second clause is removed. Clause 1 remains, which establishes Torah study as a fundamental value in the Jewish people and the State of Israel as a balance.".
The recording reveals a stark warning delivered by the chairman of Religious Zionism to the directors of national religious institutions, according to which the law does not only serve the ultra-Orthodox, but is urgently needed to protect the religious sector's yeshivahs - including Hesder yeshivahs that incorporate shortened service.
Smotrich warned unequivocally: "Without this law, our meetings are on the grill. They are waiting for us around the corner, we are next in line. I suggest that we not be naive about this matter, because this law is important to us too. To us too.".
