Opposition demands to convene Knesset plenum to discuss haredi draft, hostages
Shas and United Torah Judaism said in a statement that they were willing to meet to discuss a hostage deal.
The heads of the opposition parties announced in a joint statement on Wednesday that they had filed an official request to convene the Knesset plenum despite the summer recess, in order to discuss the “promotion of a draft-evasion law in war-time, and returning the hostages and advancing an immediate deal to end the fighting in Gaza.”
According to Knesset protocol, a minimum of 25 MKs may file a request for a plenum session during recess, and may only propose two items to place on the plenum’s agenda.
The items in question are declaratory resolutions that would likely include a vote, but the vote would not lead to any practical steps.
Haredi parties slam opposition
The current Knesset recess officially began on Monday, July 28, and will last until October 19.
Except for the last two weeks of August, the Knesset’s committees continue holding meetings, albeit with low frequency. The plenum does not convene unless the aforementioned 25 MKs or the government request it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attend a discussion at the plenum in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, July 23, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
In a statement earlier on Wednesday, the two ultra-Orthodox (haredi) parties in the Knesset, Shas and United Torah Judaism, said in a statement, “Despite the fact that we were compelled to withdraw from the government due to repeated violations of agreements by coalition partners, we remain fully committed to our brothers and sisters held captive in the tunnels of Gaza – both the living and those who have fallen. Therefore, our factions will support any proposed hostage agreement brought before the government and the Knesset.”
“There is no mitzvah greater than the redemption of captives,” the two parties said. “We once again call on the prime minister to do everything in his power to bring back all our kidnapped brothers and sisters – every single one of them – swiftly to their families.”