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


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.’

Coalition, opposition spar as preliminary vote on haredi daycare bill nears

United Torah Judaism threatens to oppose other coalition bills if daycare bill falls

 HAREDI JEWS walk in the streets of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, in Jerusalem, earlier this month.

On Simchat Torah, we dance because we refuse to let the darkness win - opinion

How can we dance again? It’s not just a question for Simchat Torah; it’s a question for every moment we face after loss, after tragedy, after the world splits wide open.

 An illustrative image of Jews celebrating with Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah.

UTJ member: Leftist kibbutz members are responsible for October 7, should not come to memorial

In the article Menachem Klugman directly blamed the kibbutz members for failing to prevent October 7.

 Charred building in Kibbutz Nir Oz

Goldknopf – UTJ will not support 2025 budget without haredi IDF draft bill

The legal blanket haredi exemption from IDF service ended in July 2023 after being ruled unequal and therefore unconstitutional.

 HOUSING MINISTER Yitzhak Goldknopf, United Torah Judaism’s leader, in the Knesset last month. He turned to his Jewish heritage and instincts regarding the plight of the hostages, notes the writer.

Otzma Yehudit joins UTJ in threat to boycott Knesset plenum this week

Lapid cancels diplomatic US trip to attend plenum

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at a conference called "Israel's Return to the Temple Mount," at the Knesset on July 24, 2024.

MK Yisrael Eichler says VP Kamala Harris poses 'global danger'

The United Torah Judaism MK said that global leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Ali Khameini are in tune with developments in the US presidential race.

 UTJ MK Yisrael Eichler points at a fellow lawmaker in the Knesset plenum.

Otzma Yehudit and haredi parties negotiating to pass series of controversial measures

Wheeling and dealing abound as Knesset wraps up summer session.

 Itamar Ben-Gvir gestures following the announcement of exit polls at his party headquarters in Jerusalem.

Right-wing voters already marking Ben-Gvir as Netanyahu's potential successor - poll

In a post-Netanyahu era, Itamar Ben-Gvir leads right-wing candidate support. The National Camp and Likud see minor seat changes. Survey includes 500 respondents.

(L-R) Benjamin Netanyahu; Itamar Ben-Gvir