From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
After crisis over draft bill, budget likely to advance as 2 Haredi factions signal support
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Two ultra-Orthodox factions in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, Degel HaTorah and Shas, are likely to support the 2026 budget in its first reading today, indicating that the measure will advance after a disagreement over the coalition’s Haredi draft regulation bill postponed the budget vote by two days.
Speaking with The Times of Israel, a spokesman for Degel HaTorah spiritual leader Rabbi Dov Lando says that while an official decision has yet to be made, “this is the direction” things are heading in.
However, the same spokesman releases a statement noting that “contrary to reports,” Lando has yet to make a decision, which will only be announced after a meeting currently taking place between him and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Boaz Bismuth regarding the conscription bill.
Meanwhile, Hebrew media outlets report that Shas will also support the bill.
According to ultra-Orthodox news site Behadrei Haredim, the Agudat Yisrael faction, which together with Degel HaTorah comprises the United Torah Judaism party, will oppose the budget.
The budget vote had been postponed over a dispute regarding the controversial draft regulation bill, which would enshrine sweeping exemptions from conscription for yeshiva students. If the government fails to pass the budget by March, it will trigger early elections.
The Times of Israel Community.