🏛️ TORAH STUDY LAW DISPUTE DEEPENS AS POLL SHOWS NETANYAHU BLOC AT 51 SEATS
🏛️ BISMUTH QUESTIONS TIMING OF CHIEF OF STAFF’S LETTER: Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth criticized the timing of a letter from the IDF chief of staff concerning the temporary order freezing criminal proceedings against Torah students.
Bismuth said the letter was sent to the defense minister and prime minister only yesterday evening, after the committee had completed its discussions and voted, despite the army having possessed the draft for approximately three weeks and IDF representatives participating in all the discussions.
He said the final wording had been formulated in full coordination with Defense Ministry representatives and at their request. The committee had also exceptionally accepted two ministry amendments after the submission deadline, and both were included in the final version.
Bismuth questioned why the letter was sent only after the discussions and vote had concluded and was published precisely on the day the legislation was scheduled to reach the Knesset plenum.
He said that if the objective had been to correct the wording, the army had approximately three weeks to do so, making the timing difficult to view as coincidental.
He also said army representatives had not presented a single case during the discussions in which arresting a Torah student resulted in that student being drafted.
The Basic Law: Torah Study passed its final reading by 63 votes to 52. Coalition tensions are continuing, with Moshe Gafni halting all votes until the Arrest Law is approved.
📊 CHANNEL 12 POLL SHOWS NETANYAHU BLOC AT 51 SEATS: A Channel 12 poll published last night shows the Netanyahu-aligned bloc losing one seat and receiving 51 mandates.
Gadi Eisenkot leads Naftali Bennett by one seat, while Bennett’s support has stabilized. Parties led by Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel remain below the electoral threshold, although both are close.
In a scenario in which all the smaller parties under discussion compete, none would cross the threshold, including prospective parties associated with Gilad Erdan, Ayelet Shaked and Yuli Edelstein.
Eisenkot also widened his lead in the poll measuring suitability to serve as prime minister. His one-point advantage last week increased to nine percentage points.
⚠️ SECURITY EXERCISE AT SHA’AR EFRAIM CROSSING: The Defense Ministry’s Crossings Authority is conducting a security exercise today at the Sha’ar Efraim Crossing until 8:00 PM.
Gunfire and explosions will be heard during the exercise.
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