The bill originally equated study of the Jewish Torah with military service, which could be used to justify ultra-Orthodox men's exclusion from mandatory enlistment. The relevant clause was removed, however, leaving the bill's legal rationale in dispute and its scope undefined

Critics say the bill could preserve state benefits for yeshiva students who avoid military service amid the IDF’s manpower shortage.

The bill originally equated study of the Jewish Torah with military service, which could be used to justify ultra-Orthodox men's exclusion from mandatory enlistment. The relevant…

An Israeli parliamentary committee on Tuesday approved a bill granting special status to Torah students, moving forward with legislation at the center of a...