United Torah Judaism

UTJ MK on coalition talks:

'There's a disconnect with Likud on fundamental issues'

MK Yaakov Asher says the Likud has not held a dialogue with United Torah Judaism on fundamental issues in the last two days.

UTJ MK:

'Likud isn't taking us seriously because we don't issue threats'

MK Yaakov Asher: There will be major changes when it comes to housing in the new government. We will all stand behind Rabbi Goldknopf.

Haredi lawmakers suspend coalition talks with the Likud

United Torah Judaism announces it has frozen coalition negotiations, accusing the Likud of unfair distribution of ministerial portfolios.

Haredi Party Official to INN:

Religious MKs mulling united front in coalition talks with Likud

Haredi and Religious Zionist factions weighing forming united front within the right-wing bloc to pressure the Likud in coalition talks.

UTJ, Religious Zionism demand:

Anchor gender-based separation in law as not discriminatory

Demand follows years of attempts by judiciary, feminist groups to ban such separation even at cultural events for religious audiences.

UTJ MK:

'There's no government without Smotrich'

MK Meir Porush does not hide his criticism of the way in which Likud conducts the coalition negotiations.

Haredi MK: If Religious Zionism isn't in - neither is UTJ

Senior source in United Torah Judaism clarifies: If MK Smotrich isn't in the coalition, neither are we; victory belongs to the entire bloc.

Senior UTJ member:

'Deri's demands are just an act to get Smotrich to give up'

A member of the haredi UTJ party told INN that the Shas leader 'does not see a reason or an interest to take the finance portfolio.

Haredi party to Herzog: Task Netanyahu with forming a government

Representatives of United Torah Judaism party recommend Pres. Isaac Herzog task MK Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next government.

Split in the left:

64 MKs will recommend Netanyahu, only 28 will recommend Lapid

National Unity, Yisrael Beytenu, Hadash-Ta'al will not recommend anyone. Netanyahu will be recommended by all right-wing parties.

Progress in negotiations?

UTJ agrees to 'short' coalition agreement

Senior haredi official: We want to oust the malicious government as soon as possible, so we agreed on a shortened coalition agreement.

Religious parties demand Law of Return be changed

Amended law would only grant citizenship to halachic Jews.

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.

Haredi MK to demand food vouchers for every child

MK Yisrael Eichler proposes plan to provide food vouchers to for all children, in attempt to mitigate rise in cost of living.

Putting together a coalition:

Gafni to ask for Finance Committee chairmanship

Degel HaTorah says party's ideological decision regarding not taking ministerial positions in the government stands.

This is why United Torah Judaism lost its eighth Knesset seat

Final election results show haredi UTJ party as losing one Knesset seat to rival Yisrael Beytenu. How did that happen?

Gafni at UTJ headquarters:

'We are happy we kicked out this bad government'

Degel HaTorah chairman blasts Liberman: He should respect the will of the voters and go home.

The Great Haredi Political Shift

So long as the country was humming along, Orthodox Jews had the luxury to vote based on narrow interests.No more. Op-ed.

Haredi vote may be deciding factor in upcoming elections

Concerns arise that United Torah Judaism at risk of losing Knesset seat due to indifference and quarreling among its leadership.

UTJ MK:

'Government with Ahmadinejad is more likely than with Gantz'

MK Yitzhak Pindrus rejects possibility of government with National Unity: If we don't have 61 seats, we will go to another election.

Haredi MK: 'They told me I had become a star in the Arab sector'

MK Gafni on MK Ben-Gvir: 'He pulls out a gun and yells, 'death to terrorists,' what will the people of Israel gain from all his yelling?

Haredi MK:

'No chance in the world UTJ will join leftist government'

MK Yitzhak Pindrus says his party will never sit with a leftist government, offers solution to Supreme Court's interference in legislation.

Discord in haredi party

Veteran MK slams peer: 'He lacks political experience'

MK Moshe Gafni says relationship between himself and his party's number one, Yitzhak Goldknopf, is 'very good.'

2022 Elections:

Aryeh Deri, Moshe Gafni no longer on speaking terms

Gafni also furious with Sa'ar, who almost caused rift in UTJ.

Haredi candidate reveals:

This is what Netanyahu and I spoke about

'We will accept positions according to the instructions of our rabbis,' United Torah Judaism's Yitzhak Goldknopf says.

Haredi MK: 'The most important thing is the Override Clause'

MK Meir Porush says party won't join government led by Defense Min. Gantz, Override Clause is most important, difficult, coalition demand.

Haredi education crisis:

'Schools only receive half of what they're legally entitled to'

"Netanyahu only promised what the law already stipulates," says haredi MK.

Haredi parties rejoice after Derech Eretz MKs drop out of race

Representatives from United Torah Judaism, Shas, criticize Communications Min. Hendel's decisions, urge him to 'leave.'

Haredi party head:

'We will no longer grovel in order to receive our due'

New UTJ chief says Netanyahu promised 'to make every effort' to ensure haredim receive their rightful share of the education budget.

Report: Likud promised UTJ NIS 3 billion for haredi schools

Netanyahu rumored to have promised to restore funding to levels prescribed by law.

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.

Haredi MK: We'll demand yeshiva funding be put into basic budget

MK Yakov Asher promises to advance three core issues, says party won't go back to focusing only on what was stolen during previous term.

Bennett slams UTJ: Businessmen condemn children to ignorance

Alternate PM says clause in agreement to keep UTJ together banning secular studies in haredi schools will condemn a generation to poverty.

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.

Leading rabbi: Belz won't join independent haredi school system

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein reaches decision on key issues, effectively halting negotiations between haredi factions.

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.

Netanyahu, haredi faction leader,meet, attempt to prevent split

Former PM Netanyahu meets MK Meir Porush to discuss efforts to avoid 'great danger' in splitup of haredi party.

Netanyahu to haredim: Our strength is in our unity

In a rare op-ed, the former Prime Minister beseeches the haredim to stay united.

Netanyahu to haredi MK: You're hurting my bloc

Opposition leader MK Netanyahu concerned haredi party's split may harm right-religious bloc.

UTJ MK:

'Gafni made efforts to form another government'

MK Uri Maklev: Gafni is the only one who worked to prevent these elections and establish another government.

MK Moshe Gafni:

'We will go with Netanyahu, even to the opposition'

United Torah Judaism chairman says he will continue to remain loyal to the right-wing bloc even after the elections.

Haredi parties' behavior worrying Netanyahu, sources say

Netanyahu holding intensive conversations with haredi rabbis and politicians, in attempt to ensure parties' loyalty.

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?

Shas forces UTJ to announce support for Netanyahu

'Happy there has been a clear announcement by MK Moshe Gafni that UTJ will go with the Likud & MK Netanyahu,' Shas chair MK Aryeh Deri says.

UTJ MK:

'We will go with the Likud, Gantz and Sa'ar can join us'

MK Maklev from Degel HaTorah faction: The haredim will form a government only with the Likud and Netanyahu.

Internal poll shows most haredim want UTJ party to remain united

Over half of haredim believe that if United Torah Judaism splits into its two factions, there will be 'political damage.'

Haredi party's newspaper: 'We are neither right nor left'

Yated Ne'eman, affiliated with the Degel Hatorah party, says haredi Judaism is neither right nor left. 'It is led by Torah sages.'

MK Porush won't rule out split of haredi party into two factions

UTJ's MK Porush says separate run may 'show the strength' of each of his party's factions.

Haredi MK:

If Netanyahu can't form govt. UTJ could join different coalition

MK Uri Maklev says UTJ could show 'extreme flexibility' in joining a non-rightwing coalition, says Liberman far more corrupt than Netanyahu.

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.

Ahead of the election

UTJ launches election campaign: 'They hurt us'

In first campaign video, UTJ warns of the "persecution" of religion by the government.

Haredi MK says parties may make agreement with Benny Gantz

If Netanyahu cannot form a government, haredi party may reach agreement with Defense Min. Gantz, MK Maklev says.

Will United Torah Judaism save the coalition?

Sources in UTJ say that senior rabbis have contacted party members, asking them to consider supporting Judea and Samaria regulations.