Agudat Yisrael

Final version of Draft Law to be presented soon

Knesset committee to receive final version of Draft Law, haredi party expresses concerns that harsher sanctions could interfere with yeshiva students' right to study Torah.

Split of Arrangements Law

Shas and Degel HaTorah support, Agudat Yisrael opposes

Despite requests from the Arab parties to turn the vote into a confidence vote in the government, MKs Goldknopf, Porush, Maoz, and Tessler oppose.

First crack in the coalition?

Agudat Yisrael MK votes with the opposition

Until now, Agudat Yisrael had limited itself to a quiet boycott, refraining from voting with the coalition and pulling bills from the agenda. However, MK Yaakov Tesler’s vote marks the crossing of a red line.

Haredi leaders disagree on Draft Law

Meeting between Lithuanian-haredi leaders and hasidic rebbes concludes without agreement on Draft Law position.

Haredim infuriated

Knesset Speaker votes for opposition civil marriage bill

The three haredi factions in the Knesset issued harsh condemnations after Speaker Ohana voted for an opposition-backed bill to legalize civil marriages.

Draft Law:

Tensions rise in United Torah Judaism over draft law

Agudat Yisrael accuses Degel Hatorah of supporting sanctions on Torah students, pointing to nightly arrests of yeshiva students and insisting its actions follow guidance from Torah scholars.

Haredi Degel Hatorah to veto death sentence for terrorists

Bill to sentence terrorists to death expected to be brought for vote, as Ashkenazic-haredi party announces opposition, abstention.

Haredi source calls Draft Law proposal 'nonsense'

Senior Agudat Yisrael source slams leaked proposal for Draft Law as 'political fabrication,' warns proposed quotas and sanctions on yeshiva students are 'unrealistic.'

Agudat Yisrael split fuels haredi newspaper debate

Haredi MKs split on bill for security budget, Agudat Yisrael MKs in disagreement over rabbis' instructions.

Haredi officials: 'We may work to bring down the government'

Haredi leaders warn they may back efforts to topple the government unless a new conscription bill aligned with pre-war agreements is submitted, blaming MK Edelstein for breaching deals.

UTJ leaves coalition

'The Draft Law presented deviates from what was agreed upon'

After no agreements were reached regarding the wording of the Draft Law, the rabbis of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael instruct their representatives in the Knesset to resign from all their coalition positions.

Agudat Yisrael ministers mull leaving cabinet

As pressure mounts over the conscription law, Agudat Yisrael ministers warn they may quit the cabinet if the Knesset does not dissolve.

Agudat Yisrael MKs threaten:

'We will oppose the budget if the Draft Law isn’t passed'

Agudat Yisrael faction sends a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, making it clear that it will not vote in favor of the budget unless the Draft Law is enacted.

Senior Gov. official:

'Haredim and Ben Gvir are going to bring down the government'

A senior government official expresses concern about Agudat Yisrael's threats to join Otzma Yehudit MKs and vote against some of the state budget laws.

'We'll force a halt'

Haredi MKs oppose advancing judicial reform

Faction leaders from the United Torah Judaism party say they won't allow the judicial reform to proceed unless the Draft Law is passed.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha:

He who lives in Eretz Yisrael has a G-d

Young religious Zionist scholars find connections between each week's Torah reading and the Holy Land.

UTJ faction demands representatives in religious tribunals

The Agudat Yisrael faction of UTJ demands the upcoming selection of religious judges include representatives from their community.

Haredi newspaper:

'We joined to promote the Draft Law, not the reform'

Hamodia newspaper says bill to pass Basic Law: Torah Study was submitted 10 days ago. 'The timing is not ours.'

Haredi faction submits bill to pass Torah Study law

Likud party clarifies: Bill submitted by Agudat Yisrael will not be promoted by the coalition.

Jerusalem Min. explains:

This is why I opposed the decision not to draft yeshiva students

Min. Meir Porush explains why his party opposes government decision not to draft yeshiva students.

Drama in United Torah Judaism:

Agudat Yisrael chief demands Degal Hatorah toe the line

Housing Min. Yitzhak Goldknopf demands Finance Committee chair Moshe Gafni join protest against State budget.

Tension in Haredi Party:

Degel Hatorah faction attacks Agudat Yisrael head

A source in Degel Hatorah says his faction's head Moshe Gafni is leading the fight alone and doesn't represent the rest of the faction.

Senior rabbis: Without Override Clause, there'll be no coalition

Council of Torah Sages instructs faction of United Torah Judaism party: Refuse to join coalition unless Override Clause is passed.

Council of Torah Scholars approve joint run of UJT party

Council of Torah Scholars of the Degal Torah Faction meets at home of the faction leader Rabbi Gershon Edelstein to approve joint run,

Haredi faction approves its list for Knesset

Agudat Yisrael, Degel Hatorah, still negotiating joint run for Knesset.

Progress in negotiations for reuniting United Torah Judaism

Degel Hatorah faction agrees to allow some Belz schools into independent haredi system. The plan now goes to the Belz Rebbe for approval.

Can Shas save the Likud-led bloc?

Shas party in negotiations with Belz hasidim in last-ditch attempt to prevent risky split in United Torah Judaism party.

Progress in negotiations between haredi factions

Agudat Yisrael, Degel Hatorah, nearing agreement on main obstacle preventing joint run, report says.

'Degel Hatorah is barreling towards an independent run'

'Doubtful if there is really a way back,' source in haredi Agudat Yisrael faction says of longtime running partner Degel Hatorah.

No progress in negotiations between haredi factions

Degel Hatorah faction representatives visited home of leading rabbi before meeting with Agudat Yisrael reps, report says.

Rift in haredi UTJ party?

'Neither faction will enter next Knesset' says official

"Dispute is ideological, but will be overcome," predicts Agudat Yisrael source.

Agudat Yisrael leader:

'I agree with Deri, we will only go with Netanyahu'

Agudat Ysrael chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf: I asked the Likud to stop the attacks against Gafni, they will not bring more votes.

Deri:

'I'm looking for an Ashkenazi candidate'

Shas chairman estimates that Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael will not split and will run together as United Torah Judaism.

UTJ heading for a split?

MK Moshe Gafni wants to shift balance of power between Degel HaTorah & Agudat Yisrael. And how many votes will they lose to Itamar Ben Gvir?

Agudath Israel opposes US military registration for Jewish women

The Agudath Israel organization has announced that 'the very requirement to register will infringe the right to religious freedom'.

Gafni clarifies:

'Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael will run together'

MK Moshe Gafni says the two factions that make up United Torah Judaism will continue their cooperation.

Haredi party to split in two?

Just prior to pre-election deadline, Degel Hatorah faction of Ashkenazic-haredi UTJ party may split from its traditional partner.

Haredi party to reach agreements on division of roles

UTJ factions Agudat Yisrael, Degel Hatorah, meet to resolve disagreements regaridng who will fill the Knesset roles offered to it.

Faction of UTJ: 'This is a piggish demand'

Factions of haredi UTJ party argue over division of responsibilities, Norwegian Law.

Rabbis decide: Litzman will be appointed minister

Agudat Yisrael Council of Torah Sages: Deputy Minister Litzman will serve as Minister if Netanyahu is forced to resign as Health Minister.

'Prepare for new elections'

Dep. Health Min. Litzman criticizes party for internal arguments, warns Israel may be headed to new elections.

Hassidic Rebbes concerned: 'Say Psalms'

Belz Hasidim read chapter 121 in Psalms: 'I lift my eyes to the mountains; from where does my help come?' as Hasidic Council does same.

Agudat Yisrael finalizes Knesset list

Party that makes up half of United Torah Judaism to run with same list as last time, says will only support Netanyahu for PM.

Draft Law: Gerrer Rebbe in rare recording

Admor of Gur explains significance of making decisions on sensitive matter like Draft Law: 'I do all I can about recruitment.'

Agudat Yisrael approves Netanyahu compromise

Haredi faction overwhelmingly approves PM-proposed outline for draft law, but Liberman remains adamant not one detail can be changed.

Deputy ministers? 'No need to have people with titles'

UTJ faction demands party back down from demands for positions for each MK, focus on problems facing haredi community.

After union with Degel, controversy erupts in Agudah

Agreement with Degel Hatorah forces Belz Hasidism, in fourth place in Agudat Yisrael, to pay price putting them outside next Knesset.

UTJ reaches agreement on Knesset list

Agudat Yisrael to receive first position, Degel Hatorah second, in United Torah Judaism's list for the upcoming elections.

Supreme Court to Agudat Yisrael: Allow women candidates

Supreme Court rules that Agudat Yisrael will be required to remove clause preventing women from running with the party.

Haredi parties discussing unity

New initiative seeks to run Shas, Agudat Yisrael and Degel Hatorah together on the same ballot.

Beit Shemesh:

Degel Hatorah outside coalition

Degel rabbis order Beit Shemesh representatives not to join Aliza Bloch's coalition. The reason: 'Some religious matters not arranged.'

Praise to the Chief Rabbinate for non-recognition of sham 'Conversion'

Haifa coalition agreement signed - and canceled

Agudat Yisrael signs coalition agreement with mayor-elect, only to be informed hours later that the agreement had been canceled.

Jerusalem mayor to meet with rival's haredi backers

Following electoral victory, Moshe Leon attempts to make peace with Agudat Yisrael faction, which had opposed him during elections.

Haredi faction won't attempt to bring down Netanyahu government

Council of Torah Sages to call on MKs to oppose current version of Draft Law - but not to topple coalition over the bill.

Draft Law: Council of Torah Sages convenes for decision

Hasidic Council of Torah Sages expected to convene this afternoon to discuss Draft Law and express support for local authority candidates.

Agudat Yisrael pushes haredi unity ahead of elections

After Degel Hatorah threatens separate run in Jerusalem, Agudat Yisrael seeks to avert split, calls for unity.

Degel Hatorah likely to run separately for Jerusalem Council

Because their true power remains unrecognized, Degel Hatorah expected to run separately from Agudat Yisrael for Jerusalem City Council.

Agudat Yisrael will run in one list; Degel threatening

Agudat Yisrael convenes, decides all factions will run one list to councils throughout country. Degel still threatens separate run.

Netanyahu refuses coalition with haredi break-off faction

As Draft Law dispute threatens to topple government, prime minister rejects coalition with Degel Hatorah.