Yitzhak Goldknopf

Haredi MK to Finance Ministry: Pay salaries before Passover

MK Yitzhak Goldknopf notes date Passover begins, asks for teachers' and government employees' salaries to be paid early.

Goldknopf threatens:

'We may oppose the budget'

The chairman of United Torah Judaism stresses that he will act according to the guidance of the rabbis on the draft issue.

'Yellow Star For Scholars':

Haredi MK denounces sanctions on draft dodgers

MK Yitzchak Goldknopf said during a hearing on the conscription law that the sanctions provisions in it are 'a yellow star for Torah scholars', drawing an immediate uproar.

Gafni furious

'The Court has declared war on the haredim'

The Supreme Court issued an interim order freezing the transfer of coalition funds to Haredi educational institutions that are not under supervision. MK Gafni: "It turns out there is no democracy."

Haredi MK:

There are more draft-dodgers in Tel Aviv than among haredim

United Torah Judaism chief MK Yitzhak Goldknopf meets 12th graders from Ulpanat Ra'aya in Beit El, answers their questions about the lack of haredi enlistment.

Likud statement infuriates haredi party

United Torah Judaism chief MK Yitzhak Goldknopf sharply condemns Shabbat-desecrating official Likud statement on Qatar Gate scandal.

Diaspora Minister: Quit the nonsense

Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli slams former Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf for thwarting bills to help settlements, advancing projects for haredim only.

ILA Director-General appointment:

Chikli condemns, Goldknopf responds: 'A disgusting statement'

Minister Amichai Chikli denounces the plan to appoint Yehuda Morgenstern as Deputy Director-General of the Israel Land Authority, prompting MK Yitzhak Goldknopf to lash out in response.

Haredi party head:

No government with haredi support without Draft Law

United Torah Judaism chief MK Yitzhak Goldknopf demands Draft Law pass before elections, warns no coalition will receive haredi support until it passes.

Goldknopf demands:

'Release defectors before Rosh Hashanah'

Goldknopf demands that yeshiva students detained by the army be allowed to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with their families and pray at the synagogues they attend every year.

Goldknopf discloses:

'The Gerrer Rebbi said - I don't believe the government'

MK Goldknopf revealed that the Gerrer Rebbe demanded to resign from the government despite the warning of the Iranian attack, saying 'they are crying wolf; I don't believe them anymore.'

MK Goldknopf clarifies: 'They distorted my statements'

MK Yitzhak Goldknopf says statements about pain 'distorted,' clarifies words referred only to Draft Law. 'Your sons are the holiest, your pain is everyone's pain,' he clarifies to bereaved families.

Haredi journalist:

'I am ashamed, this is not the way a Jew talks'

Aryeh Ehrlich, editor of Mishpacha magazine, harshly condemned MK Yitzhak Goldknopf’s statement distancing himself from the grief of bereaved religious-Zionist families amid the war with Hamas. Calling the remarks 'un-Jewish' and 'callous.'

Goldknopf threatens

'Israel will be without haredim if they are drafted'

United Torah Judaism Party chairman says the haredi community would leave Israel entirely if they are faced with a mandatory IDF draft, tells religious Zionists who serve, 'don't transfer your pain to me.'

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.

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.

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.

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.'

Minister Goldknopf: The ultimate goal - releasing the hostages

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf meets families of hostages, stresses: "Jewish law establishes that the value of redeeming captives and preserving life is supreme, even overriding Shabbat."

Due to protests

Minister Goldknopf withdraws participation in memorial ceremony

Minister of Construction and Housing Yitzhak Goldknopf announced that due to threats of protests that would desecrate the event, he will not participate in the memorial day ceremony.

Coalition struggle:

Haredi minister denounces Diaspora Minister Chikli

The ministers clashed during a cabinet meeting today where Minister Goldknopf declared that Chikli 'devoured haredim.'

Goldknopf resigns - but not from the Housing Ministry

In an official letter submitted to the Government Secretary, Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf announces his resignation from his position as a minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

'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.

Haredi minister votes against funds for his community

In vote on coalition funds, all haredi ministers support funneling money to haredi community - except Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf. 'He's opposing budgets for the haredi community?'

UTJ threatens to vote against budget

Chairman of United Torah Judaism, Yitzhak Goldknopf, sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that the state budget does not reflect their agreements.

Goldknopf's threat:

'This is the only way the government will last its term'

'Either we delay the Draft Law and hold elections in the summer, or we demand the Draft Law before the budget, and the government lasts its term.'

Haredi minister to Keith Siegel:

I will continue to support every deal

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf meets release hostage Keith Siegel at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, says his thoughts are always with the hostages still in Gaza. 'Your descriptions support what we knew - this is a matter of life-and-death, and about saving lives.'

Watch:

Protester throws jacket at Minister Goldknopf

An anti-government protester stormed the stage at a conference in Haifa, verbally attacked the Construction and Housing Minister, and threw a jacket at him.

Urban renewal approved in Judea and Samaria

A 'general's order' was published on Sunday to expand the applicability of Israeli legislation regarding urban renewal to Israeli local authorities in Judea and Samaria.

'The answer to the massacre'

Housing Minister reviews plans for Jewish settlement in Gaza

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf was photographed being shown a map of 'settlement points' in Gaza. At the same time, Minister Sa'ar promised that Israel would leave the Gaza Strip.

Finance Minister rejects Draft Law ultimatum: 'Not happening'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responds to Housing Minister's demand that the Draft Law pass before the State budget.

Housing Minister:

'This is the minimum - we're demanding what we deserve'

'We do our part, we want to know that we'll also receive our part,' Housing Minister and United Torah Judaism chief Yitzhak Goldknopf says.

Report:

Netanyahu and Goldknopf reach agreement on Draft Law

Hamodia newspaper reports that an agreement was reached between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf on the formulation and promotion of the Draft Law in the coming days.

Haredi minister: Don't allow Red Cross to visit Nukhba terrorists

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf demands Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu block Red Cross visits to Nukhba terrorists until Red Cross visits Israelis held hostage in Gaza.

Likud MK to Housing Min.:

Take steps to evacuate UNRWA campus in Jerusalem

Likud MK Amit Halevi demands Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf evacuate UNRWA campus in Jerusalem, after UNRWA ignored demands to leave the site.

MK Kroizer vs. Min. Goldknopf: ‘Painful and detached statement'

Minister of Housing claimed that the state isn’t really interested in the haredim drafting. MK Kroizer: ‘Sadly, we see that the haredi sector is not connected.’

Minister Goldknopf:

'IDF is not really interested in recruiting haredim'

Speaking at event in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Bnei Brak, UTJ chairman argues that the IDF is not really interested in haredim. Liberman fires back: The people of Israel really don't need you.

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf to PM:

'Declare UNRWA a terrorist organization'

Housing Min. Yitzhak Goldknopf asks PM Netanyahu why the National Security Council (NSC) objects to any proposal to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization and demanded that the PM intervene.

Goldknopf criticizes PM:

'Statement on Shabbat was out of place'

Construction and Housing Minister criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who responded during Shabbat to Moody's decision to downgrade Israel’s credit rating.

Haredi MK:

'No such thing as gov't unconnected to the war'

MK Gafni berates colleague Min. Goldknopf: 'I also don't think we need to settle in Gaza.'

Haredi minister:

Jewish settlement in Gaza? 'I won't oppose it'

Housing Min. Yitzhak Goldknopf won't rule out Jewish settlement in Gaza, urges Israelis to back the government during wartime.

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.

Housing Minister: 'We'll expand Kfar Chabad'

Kfar Chabad representatives visit Housing Min. Yitzhak Goldknopf, receive reassurance that their town is 'high priority.'

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.'

Goldknopf:

'No judicial reform without Draft Law'

UTJ head says govt. may collapse if the Draft Law exempting yeshiva students from IDF service is not passed.

Haredi minister condemns family who cursed IDF soldier

Housing Min. Goldknopf blasts family who shamed soldier: 'One who humiliates another Jew in public has no portion in the World to Come.'

Report:

Haredi parties to bring down govt. if Draft Law not passed

Deri, Goldknopf reportedly agree legislation exempting yeshiva students from IDF service must be passed before judicial reform

Haredi MK:

Netanyahu promised to pass Override Clause if there's no choice

Construction Min. Goldknopf says PM Netanyahu promised to push Override Clause if no other option is found for Draft Law.

Minister Goldknopf in Evyatar:

'There will be 1,000 residents here, I am one of you'

Minister of Construction and Housing visits Evyatar, seeks to encourage residents.

Budget disagreements threaten to topple coalition

Housing Minister Goldknopf says he will resign position, vote against budget, if promised funds are not approved.

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.

Due to families' objection:

Ministers will not attend Memorial Day ceremonies

Several ministers announced they would not attend Memorial Day ceremonies after some bereaved families protested their presence.

Minister to bereaved family:

'We will ensure that Samaria is settled'

Housing Minister pays condolence visit to family of Hillel and Yagel Yaniv, who were murdered in the terrorist attack in Huwara.

New town near Gaza border:

Goldknopf to propose establishment of Hanun

The town will be established as a mixed community for about 500 religious and secular families.

UTJ chair demands Minister Regev stop railroad work on Shabbat

Minister Goldknopf says railroad work conducted on Shabbat violates coalition agreements between Likud and haredi parties.

Minister of Housing: We will help Israelis settle Judea, Samaria

Minister Goldknopf explained his statement that there is no housing crisis and stated: 'We have a special duty to army veterans.'

'What is this?'

MKs Porush, Gafni bow heads during Knesset Speaker's speech

2 UTJ MKs bow heads in protest as openly gay Knesset Speaker speaks of his partner. UTJ chairman shakes Speaker's hand.

UTJ chairman Goldknopf tells Netanyahu he will not join cabinet

After speaking to Gerrer Rebbe, UTJ head rejects position on political-security cabinet.

Gafni warns UTJ could break up over perceived betrayal

Degal HaTorah chairman accuses UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf of being "unfriendly" in signing coalition agreement without informing him.

UTJ head:

'Expanding settlements is the answer to murderous terrorism'

United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf pays condolence visit to family of Tamir Avichai, who was murdered in a stabbing last week.