United Torah Judaism

Media exposes internal haredi rift

As UTJ exits coalition, internal tensions within haredi bloc resurface as divide deepens between Gur-affiliated factions and the Shlomei Emunim alliance with Belz.

Haredi Party Official:

Draft law is the 'final solution to the world of Torah'

Motke Bloy, a senior figure in the Degel Hatorah faction, claimed in an interview that the attempt to recruit Haredim is reminiscent of the Nazis' Final Solution.

Draft Law crisis

Haredi parties: Edelstein has deceived us

Shas and United Torah Judaism issue a joint statement against MK Yuli Edelstein: "He’s playing a political game at the expense of those who serve, causing a severe rift in the national camp."

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.

UTJ refuses to vote to expel Odeh from Knesset

The United Torah Judaism party has announced that its Knesset members will abstain from the vote in the Knesset plenum regarding the expulsion of MK Ayman Odeh. The right responded with anger.

Senior Coalition Member:

'Deri is breaking the government, it will cost him in elections'

The coalition accused Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri of trying to disband the government while blaming it on the UTJ party.

United Torah Judaism threatens to bolt gov't over Draft Law delay

United Torah Judaism intensifies protest over the delay in advancing Draft Law, threatens to withdraw from government, potentially taking Shas with it.

Haredi parties boycott votes, coalition withdraws all legislation

Following the announcement from the haredi parties that they would boycott the Knesset votes until the Draft Law is presented, the coalition withdrew all the laws that were on the agenda.

Haredi parties to boycott vote for new minister?

Haredi MKs warn of escalating boycott if no progress made on Draft Law, though questions arise regarding vote to approve MK Israel Eichler’s appointment as minister.

Netanyahu appoints MK Eichler as Housing Minister

Prime Minister Netanyahu decides to appoint MK Israel Eichler as Minister of Construction and Housing. If MK Yitzhak Goldknopf chooses to return to the government, the portfolio will be restored to him.

The haredi MK's late-night rescue mission

MK Roth and Israeli diplomats intervene to rescue stranded families at Jordanian border after flight delays.

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf resigns from government

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf (United Torah Judaism) submitted his resignation from his position as Minister of Construction and Housing, amid allegations of failures to meet coalition commitments on the conscription and Torah study law.

Ahead of Knesset dissolution: Pessimism among haredi parties

After the meetings of the haredi parties with the Knesset's legal advisors, the gaps between the parties are still large. "Netanyahu is still not engaged."

A day to the vote: Netanyahu fighting to keep coalition intact

With dissolution vote imminent, Netanyahu scrambles to avert elections as haredi support hinges on IDF draft exemption impasse.

Rabbis decide:

Degel HaTorah members to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset

Rabbi Dov Lando and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch determine that representatives of Degel HaTorah will vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset on Wednesday.

UTJ: No coalition exit without full rabbinic backing

As tensions rise over stalled Draft Law, senior UTJ figure says no move will be made without agreement from all party rabbis. 'Symbolic withdrawal is pointless.'

UTJ's Pindrus imposes media ban over leaks

United Torah Judaism MK Yitzhak Pindrus announces media blackout for party members, banning interviews with outlets that published leaks from internal meetings.

Haredi parties boycott Knesset votes over yeshiva draft crisis

UTJ vows to continue boycott until draft issue is resolved, as Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara orders conscription notices for tens of thousands of haredi men starting in July.

Knesset Showdown:

Haredi parties extend boycott of coalition votes over draft law

United Torah Judaism and Shas are continuing their boycott of Knesset votes this week, escalating a coalition crisis over the stalled legislation to exempt yeshiva students from military service.

Likud MK:

'Likud is not a doormat'

Likud MK Dan Illouz criticized the haredi parties for their demands that Likud support all their legislation.

MKs denounce investigation of Rabbis

Haredi MKs denounced National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for allowing Rabbis to be questioned about illegal construction.

'Ungrateful'

Haredi MK attacks religious Zionist minister

UTJ's Moshe Gafni lambasted Minister Ofir Sofer for participating in a march calling for haredi conscription. 'He's a minister thanks to us.'

'We'll die and not enlist'

Housing Minister filmed dancing to anti-Zionist song

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf was filmed at a relative's wedding dancing to a song against the state of Israel and the IDF. He later disavowed the incident as fellow ministers called for his ouster.

Religious Affairs Minister:

If Goldknopf's rabbis told him to leave gov't - he should do it

Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkieli reveals 'near-complete coordination' between Shas, Degel Hatorah, says failure to make progress on Draft Law due to interference by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

Haredi MK: This is why UTJ won't join the Left

MK Yitzhak Pindrus explains why the haredi United Torah Judaism party will not join aleft-wing government. 'Our rabbis gave a clear instruction.'

'Government will remain stable'

Degel Hatorah rejects Deri and Smotrich's threats

Despite threats of elections if draft law is not passed within two months, Deputy Minister Uri Maklev says the government has overcome many challenges and will remain stable.

Religious Zionism Party Chairman:

'What audacity? We are the ones who are going to fight and die.'

Religious Zionism Party Chairman Yehuda Wald launches attack on Haredi parties after they announce their support for PM in second phase of hostage deal.

'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.

Haredi source:

'Better for Netanyahu to cancel trip than desecrate Shabbat'

Better for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his scheduled UN speech than to fly back to Israel on Shabbat, source in haredi United Torah Judaism party says.

Haredi MK: We may need to leave the coalition

'Eliminating daycare subsidies for yeshiva students' children may force haredi parties to leave the coalition,' MK Israel Eichler warns.

Haredi minister:

'If there weren't a war right now, we'd leave the government'

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, United Torah Judaism chief, toughens stance after progress on Draft Law stalls.

UTJ to Netanyahu:

'Without a draft law - there will be no budget'

Sources in United Torah Judaism send message to the Prime Minister indicating that the party expects him to advance a draft law as agreed upon in the coalition agreements.

UTJ to boycott budget votes until school budgets resolved

United Torah Judaism party promises to boycott voting on budget unless haredi schools receive funding, promised reform.

Haredi MK:

We won't bring down the government, and we won't sit with Left

Haredi MK Yitzhak Pindrus says Israeli Left 'bothered by anything connected to tradition,' calls them 'irrelevant.'

Haredim to Netanyahu:

Without Likud majority - no draft law support

The Supreme Court will hear petitions regarding the conscription law and budgetary support for yeshivas with a panel of nine judges.

Haredi Draft:

Granddaughters of haredi MKs enlist in the IDF

Two granddaughters of two MKs from the party most strongly against the drafting of haredim are serving at a military base in the center of the country, where they are working on intelligence projects.

Draft law:

Haredi party threatens to leave government

Sources negotiating the Draft Law said on Wednesday evening that United Torah Judaism had raised the threat of secession and demanded the removal of the threat of economic sanctions and quotas.

Deputy Minister helps Druze restaurant go kosher

Asma, IDF widow and restaurant owner, thanked the haredi deputy minister for helping make her restaurant kosher.

Message to Netanyahu:

UTJ minister: If the Draft Law isn't approved, I will resign

Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf in interview: As soon as the Draft Law is not passed, I will resign.

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 minister threatens:

Judicial reform won't advance until Draft Law passes

Min. Yitzhak Goldknopf, head of United Torah Judaism, warns, 'Netanyahu made a commitment to pass Draft Law - he needs to fulfill it.'

Smotrich demands UTJ MK retract anti-Zionist remarks

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich lashed out at a UTJ MK who claimed that 'the Zionists didn't prevent the Holocaust'.

Belz schools to implement core curriculum

Two schools to participate in initial pilot program, as agreement expected to expand to include all Belz schools and their 9,000 students.

Report:

Haredi parties to vote against unilateral judicial reforms

Shas, UTJ, reportedly seek to have judicial reforms frozen to allow for passage of Draft Law.

Shas chief: UTJ liable to harm Draft Law approval

MK Aryeh Deri warns 'unnecessary words' by United Torah Judaism liable to hurt ability to pass Draft Law.

Cabinet Secretary:

'We will push draft exemtion that's immune to judicial review'

Yossi Fuchs says Draft Bill will be advanced at the beginning of the winter session and will include an exemption for Torah students.

UTJ MK: 'Does any other community lose power in a heat wave?'

MK Moshe Roth demands a solution for the repeated power outages that have been striking Haredi neighborhoods.

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.

Haredi party official:

'Shas chief is influencing United Torah Judaism'

Senior source in haredi UTJ party claims Shas chief Aryeh Deri is working to convince UTJ's Moshe Gafni to drop support for judicial reform.

Haredi minister:

'Shelving Override Clause is unacceptable to us'

Following reports that judicial reform will no longer include Override Clause, Jerusalem Min. Porush clarifies: Our party won't accept this.

UTJ MK: 'I spoke against the LGBT movement, not any one person'

MK Yitzhak Pindrus explains his declaration that the LGBT movement is 'the most dangerous thing facing Israel today."

Gafni:

We'll demand override clause be passed

UTJ MK says haredi party still seeks to pass law allowing Knesset to re-enact legislation struck down by the Supreme Court.

UTJ MK:

'You made the haredim out to be a fifth column'

MK Yaakov Asher explained why in his opinion, the haredim must be included in the Racism Law.

Haredi parties demand legislation on draft law

Prime Minister Netanyahu has called together the heads of the haredi parties as the haredi draft exemption nears expiration.

Coalition reaches deal with haredi lawmakers for state budget

UTJ, Likud agree to compromise on funding for the haredi sector, paving way for passage of state budget.

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.

Revealed:

Bennett, Lapid, Liberman offered NIS 1 billion to haredim

Previous government negotiated with UTJ MKs in attempt to secure their support for the State budget.

Furor in coalition over NIS 16.5 billion budget

Otzma Yehudit, UTJ ministers vote against distribution of funds over lack of funds for periphery, haredi schools.