United Torah Judaism

Marathon Knesset meetings set to rapidly advance haredi parties’ contentious Torah study bill

The bill seeks to enshrine Torah study in the country’s Basic Law as part of a proposal that critics argue encourages draft evasion and changes the status of yeshiva students who do not serve.

MKS ATTEND a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on June 16, 2026.
A convoy of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men rally against the military inscription, on road 1 outside of Jerusalem, June 24, 2026.

Israel's gov't must not serve interests of ultra-Orthodox party leaders, opposition heads declare

Shas chairman MK Arye Deri attends the State Comptroller elections at the plenum of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, June 3, 2026.

Haredi leaders say they will support Knesset dissolution if no progress made on draft bills

Haredim block a road and clash with police to protest the jailing of seminary students who fail to comply with IDF recruitment orders, June 1.

Torah study and Israeli military service are both sacred, but not the same - opinion


Police boost security for MKs Asher, Gafni over escalating threats amid draft law tension

A group of Haredi Jews protests in front of the home of MK Yaakov Asher in Bnei Brak against the draft law. Due to the escalation, police declared MKs Asher and Gafni at a level four threat.

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators protest at the Bar Ilan intersection in Jerusalem

Prosecution moves to hold Roche Israel, former UTJ aides accountable for possible fraud

Three key figures are facing potential criminal charges in an ongoing lobbying investigation.

Yaakov Litzman at the weekly cabinet meeting, March 2020.

WATCH: Haredi demonstrators clash with passersby, throw objects at reporters covering protest

A video of a journalist from N12 having items thrown at her was shared on social media, where two reporters and their camera crew were attacked by protesters.

 Protests against haredi draft in Jerusalem, October 30, 2025.

Eretz Nehederet features Alon Ohel playing piano, pokes fun at Mamdani, UTJ

The highlight of Eretz Nehederet's comedy show was the emotional playing of "Under the Sky" by freed hostage Alon Ohel.

Picture of Alon Ohel playing piano with the cast of cast of Eretz Nederet

Bismuth submits controversial haredi draft law outline in bid for Shas return to gov't

The outline of Bismuth’s draft lays out principles under which 50% of the haredi draft cohort will be enlisted within five years and the exemption age will be set at 26.

Ultra orthodox Jewish reserve soldiers of the IDF's Hasmonean Brigade operate in the Gaza Strip on June 26, 2025.

Knesset to vote on NIS 30 billion increase in defense budget, making cuts to other ministries

Israel’s 2025 budget vote will boost defense by NIS 30b, with haredi MKs set to abstain, leaving the tied coalition hoping the measure will still pass.

A plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, September 10, 2025.

Gafni urges Shas to open Sephardi schools, party responds amid renewed discrimination debate

Shas put out a letter thanking Gafni, thanking him for stressing the need for Shas to remain strong and independent, as no other party properly represents the Sephardic public.

MK Moshe Gafni in the Knesset plenum, in Jerusalem, December 4, 2024

‘We want a draft law’: Bismuth leads first meeting on new conscription bill since Edelstein ousting

MK Boaz Bismuth opened the first meeting to discuss the haredi draft law since replacing MK Yuli Edelstein as Chairperson of the  Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

MK Boaz Bismuth at first meeting on new conscription bill since Edelstein ousting on August 12, 2025

Bismuth elected FADC head, ousting Edelstein over haredi draft bill

Edelstein, prior to the vote, published for the first time the draft of the conscription law, which was sent to committee members. 

MK Boaz Bismuth attends a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem July 8, 2025

Netanyahu must decide if he's a leader or follower as his government loses Israel's trust - opinion

Why then does Netanyahu choose to turn his back on the will of the majority, thereby eroding public trust in him and his government?

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at a Knesset debate, July 14, 2025; illustrative.