United Torah Judaism

Knesset panel approves budget transfer of NIS 270 million to haredi education during recess

The committee approved a total of approximately NIS 1 billion in budget allocations for the Education Ministry, the Settlement and National Missions Ministry, and the Religious Services Ministry.

Finance Committee chair MK Hanoch Milwidsky leads a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, August 4, 2026.
Chairman of the “Together” party and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026.

Bennett losing ground as Eisenkot, Netanyahu neck-and-neck for upcoming elections - poll

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a Knesset vote, July 16, 2026.

Netanyahu's Likud falls to lowest position since June 2025 as Eisenkot reaches new heights - poll

The Haredi Public party launched a large-scale advertising campaign at the entrances to and exits from major haredi cities on July 19, 2026.

New haredi party launches, aiming to secure spot in Knesset ahead of elections


Ultra-Orthodox minister resigns from Israeli gov't over IDF draft law debacle

In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Goldknopf outlined the series of delays and setbacks that prevented the bill from proceeding.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023

Opposition's Knesset dispersal bill fails after Edelstein, haredim reach draft bill agreement

When the opposition called for the vote, Deputy Minister Yaakov Tesler and MK Moshe Roth of Agudat Yisrael voted in favor of dissolving the Knesset.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen outside his office at the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem on June 11, 2025.

Haredi minister pushing for bill to disperse Knesset, take Israel to elections

According to Israeli law, if a bill to disperse the Knesset passes, an election is automatically called and must occur within 90 days.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023

Haredi parties' Knesset boycott to continue for third straight week

This could change pending an assessment by haredi MKs later this week, according to one of the spokespersons.

 Haredi men are seen protesting the effort to draft ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the IDF.

How real is the haredi threat to topple the government? - analysis

Despite the growing calls, even within the coalition, for eligible haredi men to join the IDF, the reality on the ground has not changed very much.

 Anti-draft protests erupt in Jerusalem, May, 2025.

Haredi faction holds emergency talks as Israel’s 2025 budget deadline looms

Haredi faction Degel Hatorah's vote on the 2025 budget remains uncertain amid coalition strife.

 United Torah Judaism (UTJ) chairman rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf is seen at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, July 28, 2022

Government approved 2025 ‘coalition funds’ amidst criticism

Coalition funds are a part of the national budget aimed at enabling the implementation of political agreements.

 Finance Minister and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, February 3, 2025.

UTJ leaders refuse Netanyahu request to delay haredi draft bill

While preparation of the haredi draft bill sped up in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in recent weeks, it is still unlikely to pass into law by March 3.

 Police officers in Bnei Brak, Israel use water cannons as haredi Orthodox Jewish men block a main highway to protest efforts to allow the state to draft Haredi yeshiva students into military service, June 2, 2024.

MKs threatened bill to disperse Knesset over IDF exemption, major haredi paper reaveals

There is a growing sense of urgency, but the "feeling" in the party is that at the moment there is no concrete proposal on the table to disperse the Knesset.

 Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, leader of United Torah Judaism, arrives for a cabinet meeting together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu orders removal of haredi daycare bill from Knesset plenum agenda

United Torah Judaism, the party pushing the bill, reportedly said later on Tuesday that it was insisting that the bill remain on the agenda.

 ‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’