Shas and United Torah Judaism on Tuesday denied reports that they have reached a deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance some of their legislative agenda in exchange for supporting coalition priorities, following a meeting with the premier.

The meeting between Netanyahu, Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri and Degel HaTorah faction chair Moshe Gafni came after all bills were again removed from the Knesset plenum’s agenda due to the Haredi parties’ boycott of coalition legislation.

The boycott, which is now in its second week, was initially prompted by the coalition’s refusal to advance to a plenum vote on the so-called Daycare Law, which would restore daycare subsidies for the children of draft evaders, but has since grown to encompass other Haredi conscription-related demands.

Haredi legislators, who began the process of dissolving the Knesset in May over the coalition’s failure to pass a controversial law restoring yeshiva students’ draft exemptions, have since pushed for the passage of legislation declaring Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel, restoring daycare subsidies to the children of draft dodgers, and halting the arrests of evaders.

According to the Ynet news site, the sides agreed to hold the upcoming Knesset election — which must be held by October 27 — on October 20, with the Haredim also agreeing to back the coalition’s bills to split the role of the attorney general and establish a politically appointed commission of inquiry into Hamas’s onslaught of October 7, 2023.

In return, the report said the coalition would back a Haredi-backed quasi-constitutional Basic Law seeking to give Torah scholars the same rights as military veterans, and a bill to prevent the arrests of yeshiva students who evade the military draft.

There is a limited amount of time to pass these bills, as the pre-election parliamentary recess is likely to begin on July 16.

The report said the so-called Daycare Law would not be advanced under the deal.

Spokespeople for the prime minister did not reply to The Times of Israel’s request for comment.

In a joint statement after the report came out, the two ultra-Orthodox factions stated that “contrary to reports, there is no ‘deal’ with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Our demand to advance the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law preventing the arrest of Torah scholars stands on its own, is not contingent on anything, and we have not given up on any demand.”

“To the extent that we see these laws are being practically advanced, we will be able to resume voting in........

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