TEL AVIV — Leaders of the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties visited detained Ultra-Orthodox draft evaders at the Neve Tzedek Military Prison on June 7, 2026. Shas leader Arye Deri, accompanied by MK Michael Malkieli and Haim Biton, distributed books to detainees during the visit.

Deri stated that the Shas party supports the detainees and is working to secure their release and regulate their status. He also vowed that legislation would soon pass to establish Torah study as a Basic Law. Deri said, "Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara is sabotaging legislation aiding draft evaders."

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation is scheduled to vote on the Torah study Basic Law proposal on Tuesday, following the cancellation of a Sunday meeting. Degel HaTorah faction chairman MK Moshe Gafni had requested that the legislation advance to a preliminary Knesset plenum vote on Wednesday. This Basic Law proposal is reportedly part of an arrangement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Haredi parties made prior to the Knesset dissolution vote.

The reported arrangement schedules the election date for October 20. This is in exchange for advancing Basic Law: Torah Study, Ultra-Orthodox daycare subsidies legislation, and kashrut legislation. General elections must conclude no later than October 27. Haredi lawmakers had previously told the Knesset House Committee they preferred a September election date to precede the High Holy Days.

Likud MK Dan Illouz voted against adding Torah study to the Basic Law during its preliminary reading. Illouz said, "This week, ultra-Orthodox political operatives are trying to bring to a vote a law that seeks to enshrine draft evasion under the guise of 'Torah study.'" Illouz said, "If the bill is brought to a vote, I will vote against it, and I call on anyone who truly loves the Torah to vote against it." Illouz added, "Inventing a Judaism in which Torah study exempts a person from defending the lives of his people is not the tradition of Israel."

Democratic Party leader Yair Golan criticized statements made by Haredi party leaders during the prison visit. Golan said, "While reservists are carrying heavy burdens, Deri is supporting draft evaders." Golan said, "This is not Judaism. This is not Zionism. This is small politics at the expense of military personnel."