JERUSALEM — Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party, sent a letter to Shas chairman MK Arye Deri on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. In the letter, Rabbi Yosef called for the Shas party to support the coalition's legislation, conditioning this support on the advancement of haredi-backed bills.

One of the key bills referenced is the Basic Law: Torah Study, which seeks to establish Torah study as a fundamental value within Israel's Basic Laws. "There is no room for delay, and under no circumstances should the passage of the Torah Study Law be put at risk," Rabbi Yosef wrote in his letter.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi had previously sent a message to Rabbi Yosef, urging him to instruct Shas lawmakers to support a communications reform bill aimed at implementing reforms within Israel's broadcasting sector. Rabbi Yosef responded that the communications legislation would only receive approval if ultra-Orthodox bills currently on the Knesset's agenda were also passed.

The haredi parties, which include Shas and United Torah Judaism, have recently advanced several bills. In addition to the Basic Law: Torah Study, another proposed piece of legislation would temporarily freeze the arrests of haredi draft evaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favor of the Basic Law: Torah Study bill when it passed its first reading last week.

The haredi parties boycotted coalition voting in June 2026, stating their legislation was not being advanced rapidly enough. Separately, in April 2026, the High Court of Justice ordered the state to take concrete steps to revoke financial benefits from draft evaders and to move towards criminal enforcement against haredi men who evade military service. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir stated in March 2026 that the IDF could face collapse without a solution to its manpower shortage.

The haredi parties previously indicated they would not support the communications reform bill, citing concerns that some provisions could lead to broadcasting on Shabbat. The Knesset is scheduled to go into recess after the week of July 7, 2026.