From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Ultra-Orthodox faction MKs summoned to meeting with spiritual leader as they mull trying to force early elections
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"
Following reports that the ultra-Orthodox Degel HaTorah faction has threatened to dissolve the Knesset unless the coalition commits to advancing a law exempting yeshiva students from IDF service before the upcoming elections, its lawmakers are summoned for a meeting with party spiritual leader Rabbi Dov Lando.
“At this time, the Knesset members of Degel HaTorah were summoned to the residence of the leader of the generation, Rabbi Dov Lando,” a spokesman for the rabbi announces.
Prior to the announcement, a spokesman for Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni told The Times of Israel that lawmakers were “waiting for the rabbi’s decision.”
The Times of Israel Community.