United Torah Judaism

Coalition crisis averted as Shabbat work on train lines limited

Netanyahu orders Shabbat work on train lines restricted to potentially life-threatening situations.

Haredi ultimatum: Our Shabbat, or your coalition

The heads of the haredi parties have given Netanyahu 24 hours to end the train works on Shabbat, or they will break the government.

Transportation Minister: Shabbat violations - not my department

"I can't get involved in train works which take place on Shabbat"

'Haredim are our allies, I won't betray them'

'The haredi public is right-wing,' says Bennett. 'We have a firm, lasting alliance with them.'

Jewish Home demands haredi party condemn 'execution' caricature

Activists demand Health Minister Litzman condemn offensive caricature portraying Deputy Defense Minister executing yeshiva students.

Poll: Coalition up, opposition down as Labor plummets

Labor drops 8 mandates in latest poll, while Jewish Home, Yesh Atid surge.

'You only protest when it comes to helping haredim'

The opposition raged over a new bill that allots 1,040 shekels a month to needy Torah students with families.

Core Curriculum Law cancelled

A controversial counter-law now allows all Israeli schools - including haredi ones - to drop core subjects.

Haredi party trumps Labor in latest poll, Yesh Atid ties Likud

Jewish Home, United Torah Judaism surge past Zionist Union, Yesh Atid pulls into statistical dead-heat with Likud.

Chief rabbis warn Netanyahu: No deals with Reform movement

Rabbis Yosef and Lau say Reform movement must not gain influence in Israel, especially at the Western Wall.

Health Minister: 'I didn't consult rabbi over marijuana reform'

Litzman defends medical marijuana policy, slams Reform movement. 'Netanyahu needs to know that its us or them - he can't have both'.

Government approves increased yeshiva funding

The yeshiva budget will return to its pre-2013 level, set before Lapid became Finance Minister in previous government.

Haredi parties advance bill to exempt yeshivas from property tax

Proposal to reach Knesset Assembly on Wednesday. Interior Ministry agrees to cover the cost.

Ballot boxes in yeshivas?

Unlikely allies team up as Yesh Atid and UTJ MKs join together to push voting in universities, yeshivas.

Deputy Education Minister resigns from Knesset

Meir Porush leaves Knesset as per 'Norwegian Law,' to end months of infighting within UTJ over distribution of MKs.

'Liberman as Defense Minister would be a disaster for haredim'

Haredi parties nervous Liberman would use position to push for tougher measures against yeshiva students avoiding the draft.

Gafni: Don't badmouth Shas, we might run with them next time

Haredi split? Degel HaTorah MKs consider breaking up UTJ party, joint run with Shas.

Haredi MK: I want Jewish Home out of the coalition and Herzog in

Finance Committee chair blasts fellow UTJ MK for ties to Jewish Home.

Haredi parties breaking up? MK says 'all options on the table'

Degel HaTorah, Agudah factions of UTJ considering split. MK Maklev claims 'all options are on the table,' including joint run with Shas.

MK Eichler: Netanyahu was bought by Reform Jews

Haredi MK accuses 'most senior politician,' other ministers of having been bribed by Reform Jews in US; 'this is buying the government.'

Bennett emerges victorious in battle for Hesder Yeshiva budget

In ongoing battle with haredi party UTJ, Bennett emerges with 40 percent increase over 2012 budget.

First openly-gay Likud MK responds to haredi snub

Likud's newest MK, Amir Ohana, says he'd be delighted if haredi MKs continued to absent themselves from his Knesset speeches.

Report: Netanyahu offered Yesh Atid to join coalition

United Torah Judaism livid over offer, views Lapid joining as 'red line.'

Bill: Ban Parties Who Don't Include Women from the Knesset

Bill on the table to ban parties from Knesset which refuse to include women - a practice notably and consistently held by haredi parties.

New Regulation Lets Jerusalemites Build Sukkahs Until 11 PM

Noise regulations in holy city will be changed to allow sukkah construction on the evening after Yom Kippur.

Again: Uproar After Netanyahu Spotted in Non-Kosher Restaurant

Haredi party incensed after Netanyahu sits with Italian PM in posh Florence cafe. PMO: Netanyahu never eats non-kosher food.

Litzman Appointed 'Official' Health Minister

Yaakov Litzman will officially take the position of Health Minister – a job he has been doing for the past several years as deputy minister.

Haredi UTJ 'Not Ideologically Opposed' to Pledging Loyalty

MK Eichler says Torah council to rule on Supreme Court demand for full ministership, but party never had 'ideology' against it.

Could a Religous Woman Be Israel's Next Foreign Minister?

The High Court ruled that a Health Minister needed to be appointed within 60 days, and that is likely to apply to the Foreign Ministry too.

Coalition drama

Supreme Court Ruling Places Haredi MKs in a Bind

Court accepts petition against practice of appointing haredi MKs as 'deputy ministers acting as ministers' for ideological reasons.

Extremists Arrested 'Bombing' Haredi Draft Conference

3 haredi youths disrupt meeting encouraging IDF draft in central Jerusalem by hitting participants, cursing them and damaging the building.

No more 'sharing the burden'?

Government Holding Secret Meetings to Cancel Haredi Draft Law

UTJ MKs, government officials have been secretly meeting for 6 months to come up with ways to prevent haredim from being drafted.

UTJ: Govt. Could 'Have Problems' Unless PM Fulfills Promises

Top rabbinical supporters of UTJ told Prime Minister Netanyahu that if expected his coalition to survive, he should honor his commitments.

Haredi Split? United Torah Judaism In-Fighting Turns Spiteful

Agudat Yisrael tries to block Norwegian bill as 'revenge' for Degel HaTorah MK's attempt to be elected to Judicial Selection Committee.

Did Haredi Parties Mislead Herzog on Left-Wing Government?

Did haredi parties mislead Yitzhak Herzog about their intention to form a coalition with them? Zionist Union leader isn't sure.

Litzman: Anyone Can Join the Coalition - Except Lapid

United Torah Judaism MK welcomes expansion of government to more than 61 MKs, unless it's Yesh Atid that joins.

Second Coalition Rebellion? MK Eichler Threatens to Break Ranks

UTJ MK threatens to rebel if not granted chairmanship of Knesset committee; sources tell Arutz Sheva he never signed coalition deal.

A-G Expected to Challenge Coalition for Technical Reasons

Likud's deals with UTJ, Jewish Home violated Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein's guidelines for coalition talks, news site claims.

Herzog: PM Dug Himself a Pit, I Will Not Throw Him a Rope

Labor leader Yitzhak Herzog insists Netanyahu should not count on him to bail out latest government when push comes to shove.

Lapid: 'Suckers' Lose Again as Yeshiva Students to Get IDF Pass

Yesh Atid MKs and supporters conducted a protest against the expected repeal of sanctions on yeshiva students who don't serve in the IDF.

United Torah Judaism Supports Unity Government

Haredi party, like Shas, believes Labor joining coalition will help stabilize government, further social causes.

Lapid: Netanyahu is Using Our Tax Money for Political Payoffs

Continuing rant against Likud's coalition deal with UTJ at Yesh Atid's faction meeting, Lapid stresses party will fight Bibi's 'bribes.'

Lapid Threatens Netanyahu with High Court Petition

If Netanyahu refuses to appoint health miniter, leaving minsitry in hands of UTJ, Lapid threatened, Yesh Atid will turn to High Court.

Haredi Party, Left United Over Child Allowance Increase

Prof. Yossi Yonah of Labor praises child allowance raise, says it will lift Israel higher on OECD list.

Child Allowances to Increase As Part of UTJ Deal

Cash-strapped parents to receive nearly double the current monthly child allowance rate in 2016. UTJ: It's a good deal.

Deri and Bennett Continue to Feud Over Religion Ministry

With UTJ and Kulanu on board, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu turns his attention to finishing off deals with Shas and Jewish Home.

Tekuma: Judea and Samaria Construction is Our 'Red Line'

If Bibi does not commit to massive building in Judea-Samaria, Jewish Home should not join the government, says MK Ariel's faction.

Netanyahu and Litzman Meet to Sign Coalition Deal

Clauses of agreement being perused ahead of final signing between Likud and UTJ heads, as coalition continues to come together.

Coalition Deal to Stop Supreme Court Interference

Agreement draft between Likud and UTJ includes clause preventing court from cancelling laws passed by majority of MKs.

Lapid Blasts Coalition Agreement with UTJ

Yesh Atid chairman says Netanyahu caved in to the demands of "a non-Zionist party" in coalition agreement with United Torah Judaism.

First Coalition Deal Signed Between UTJ and Likud

Haredi party UTJ becomes the first to seal negotiations as Netanyahu's coalition government starts to take form.

Report: Likud and United Torah Judaism Deal On the Rocks

UTJ source tells Arutz Sheva that Likud has retracted prior agreements to repeal criminal sanctions from Enlistment Law.

With Shas, UTJ, and Kulanu On Board, How Can PM Finalize Gov't?

Shas, UTJ, and Kulanu all close to a final deal with Likud - leaving Netanyahu with two main options to concretize his fourth government.

Moses: With Kahlon its 'Tools' But Us 'Blackmail'

MK Menachem Moses speaks out about near finished coalition deal between UTJ, Likud, shoos away naysayers.

UTJ Reportedly in Final Stages of Coalition Deal

All that's left is phrasing final agreement according to report, with deal to include cancellation of Enlistment Law's criminal sanctions.

Kulanu MK Complains 'Up Front' About Haredi Parties' Spending

The government hasn't been formed yet, but already rival parties are accusing each other of “ruining” their policies.

Scrambling Likud Resumes Coalition Talks

18 days after receiving the mandate to form a government, Likud hopes to finally concretize deals with both United Torah Judaism and Shas.

Source: Likud Ready to Announce Deal With Shas, UTJ

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is set to announce his first coalition agreement next week, sources in the Likud said.

Likud: If Kulanu Drags its Feet, We Will Sign with Haredim First

'Excessive' demands will prevent Kulanu from being the first party Likud signs a coalition agreement with, official says.

Kahlon Raises 'Price,' Now Demands 3 Ministries

Moshe Kahlon is demanding some of the top government portfolios as his price for joining Binyamin Netanyahu's new government.