MK Meir Porush launched a scathing attack in the Knesset on Wednesday against opponents of the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, urging lawmakers to support the legislation and accusing its critics of failing to understand the Torah’s central role in the Jewish people’s connection to Eretz Yisroel.

Speaking during the Knesset debate, the United Torah Judaism lawmaker said anyone who believes in the importance of Torah should vote in favor of the bill.

Porush began by asking why, despite Israel being founded as a Jewish state, legislation affirming the importance of Torah study had never been enacted.

“Seventy-eight years ago, Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of a state, which he defined as a Jewish and democratic state. One could rightly ask: How is it that in a country whose founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence about the ‘eternal Book of Books,’ they did not immediately enact a Basic Law on Torah study?”

He answered his own question by pointing to the Declaration of Independence itself.

“The answer is no less compelling than the question. It, too, is written in the Declaration of Independence: ‘The Jewish people arose in the Land of Israel.’ As is well known, the Jewish people received the Torah at Har Sinai 3,338 years ago, and by virtue of that Torah we are in Eretz Yisroel.”

Porush argued that, under normal circumstances, no such law should even be necessary because the importance of Torah ought to be self-evident.

“In a properly ordered world, there would be no need for such a law. There are things that are far beyond legislation, things that should be obvious to anyone who seeks to live in Eretz Yisroel by virtue of the Divine command written in the Torah, which is our deed to this land.”

He then turned his criticism toward those opposing the bill, introducing what became the central theme of his address.

“In recent years, however, a new group of politicians has emerged. Let’s call them the ‘Ugandan politicians.’ Some are politicians sitting here in the Knesset, while others disguise themselves as jurists, legal advisers, and judges.”

Porush said those critics fail to appreciate the Jewish people’s Torah-based connection to the Land of Israel.

“They don’t understand because they have no connection to Torah. As far as they are concerned, the state could just as well have been established in Uganda—a democratic state with no connection to the Jewish people. In that case, there באמת would be no reason or logic to enact a Basic Law on Torah study. What does Uganda have to do with Torah study?”

He also cited a military committee formed after the October 7, 2023, massacre, arguing that even senior defense officials have acknowledged the importance of full-time Torah learning.

“To show how absurd this all is, there is one body that does not accept the position of the ‘Ugandan politicians’—the army. After the terrible tragedy on Simchas Torah 5784, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, today a favorite of the left, established a professional security committee with the support of then-Defense Ministry Director-General and current Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, together with then-Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.”

According to Porush, the committee’s recommendations specifically recognized the need to preserve the Torah world.

“The committee, chaired by Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Shkedy and composed of senior military officers, recommended the following: ‘Preserving the core values of the chareidi community means preserving those whose Torah is their profession (those who study three sedorim a day).’ Those words appear in General Shkedy’s recommendations.”

He continued, “As I said, this committee, established after Simchas Torah 5784, determined that someone who studies three sedorim a day should not be drafted. Apparently there are people in the army who understand the value of Torah study. But the Ugandan politicians do not. Against that group of politician-jurists who embrace the Uganda approach, we must provide a Jewish response today—a response that should be completely self-evident.”

Porush also directed sharp criticism at members of the governing coalition who planned to oppose the legislation, including some from the religious Zionist camp.

“To those coalition members who intend to vote against this law, some of whom even wear knitted kippot, I want to say: What do you have to do with Eretz Yisroel? You proudly insist that not a single grain of this land should be surrendered because it was promised to us in the Torah. Yet when it comes to Torah study, you want us to settle for only a few grains of Torah. May I ask you for just a little soul-searching.”

Concluding his remarks, Porush thanked those responsible for advancing the legislation and urged lawmakers to support it.

“I want to thank my friend, former MK Rabbi Moshe Shimon Roth, who wisely submitted this bill at the beginning of the Knesset term, and MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who is now leading its advancement together with all the members of United Torah Judaism. I call upon every member of the Knesset today to vote in favor of Torah—otherwise, you are voting in favor of the State of Uganda.”