Daily Briefing July 13: Coalition races to pass controversial laws before Knesset dissolves

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Political correspondent Ariela Karmel joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.

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The Knesset is in the midst of a legislative blitz before parliament dissolves on July 17. Karmel notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing to pass controversial bills important to the ultra-Orthodox and nationalist, right-wing parties in his coalition, to solidify his alliances ahead of October 27’s general elections.

Karmel discusses the various bills likely to be passed into law, including a Basic Law on Torah study that would shield Haredi men from the army draft; the repeal of a kashrut reform that weakened the Orthodox rabbinate; and a bill to gut the powers of the attorney general. A bill to establish a politically appointed probe into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion, which would give the coalition unilateral control over the commission to investigate its own conduct, may not be enacted due to time constraints.

Much of this legislation is vulnerable to constitutional challenges, reports Karmel, but there is no certainty that the coalition, if reelected, would abide by future High Court rulings, which, in turn, raises the question of whether the current government would concede if it loses on October 27.

Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Election date finalized for October 27, with government set to complete full term

Bill approved for final Knesset readings would freeze Haredi enlistment for at least 7 months

Bill to gut attorney general’s powers approved by Knesset committee for final readings

Coalition aims to pass raft of contentious bills in final week before Knesset dissolution

Netanyahu said seeking Haredi loyalty after election, but party leaders noncommittal

Knesset advances controversial bill for politically appointed Oct. 7 probe in 1st reading

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