Moshe Gafni

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish supporters of the United Torah Judaism Party rally in Jerusalem, on September 15, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 15, 2019, 11:32 pm

At huge rally, Haredi MK said to liken Lapid, Liberman to biblical enemy Amalek

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox gather in Jerusalem in support of United Torah Judaism party; event attended by top rabbis

By TOI staff

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of the United Torah Judaism party arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 2, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 5, 2019, 11:05 am

Litzman: Lapid is a ‘contagious disease,’ ‘infected’ Gantz with anti-Semitism

Deputy health minister castigates Blue and White leadership after the centrist party rules out coalition with ultra-Orthodox

By TOI staff

Shas leader Aryeh Deri during a party faction meeting in the Knesset on May 30, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 30, 2019, 8:00 pm

Deri accuses Liberman of anti-Semitism, then claims Russians don’t serve state

Shas chairman says Yisrael Beytenu chief tried to extort Netanyahu with ‘delusional demands’ and used ultra-Orthodox public in bid to oust PM

By Raoul Wootliff

United Torah Judaism's Yaakov Litzman (left) and Moshe Gafni at a press conference in Bnei Brak on May 30, 2019. (Flash90)

May 30, 2019, 2:18 pm

UTJ launches its campaign, with leaders to weigh boycotting Liberman

Party’s Gafni in favor of rejecting Yisrael Beytenu if it passes electoral threshold; Litzman: ‘We’ll remember this. We were extorted’

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shakes hands with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as he is formally given the task to form the next government, at the president's residence in Jerusalem on March 25, 2015. (photo credit: AFP PHOTO / MENAHEM KAHANA)

April 16, 2019, 11:44 am

Netanyahu secures majority backing after right-wing parties recommend him as PM

After the parties’ two days of consultations with Rivlin, premier has the formal support of 65 MKs for a fifth term

By Raoul Wootliff

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman speaks at a party event at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, on April 15, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 15, 2019, 10:22 pm

Liberman backs Netanyahu for PM, but insists on passage of Haredi draft law

Secularist Yisrael Beytenu leader vows to hold the line against Orthodox parties over religious issues, even at price of coalition

By TOI staff

Then-Jewish Home MK Bezalel Smotrich, left, speaks with then-health minister Yaakov Litzman during a plenary session in the Knesset on January 25, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 15, 2019, 11:38 am

In coalition talks, Haredi parties and URWP to present unified front on religion

Parties to form ‘an identical and uncompromising’ alliance on matters of religion and state to combat the secularist Yisrael Beytenu, says MK Moshe Gafni

By Jacob Magid

Illustrative photo of ultra-Orthodox women entering a bus through the back door in Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, in 2011 (Uri Lenz/Flash90/File)

March 24, 2019, 4:25 pm

At UTJ event, rabbi says ‘even Nazis’ understood need to separate men and women

At campaign launch in Bnei Brak, prominent rabbi Aviezer Filtz laments the fact that Israeli law forbids separation on public buses

By TOI staff

United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) in the Knesset on November 24, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 12, 2019, 12:24 pm

Ultra-Orthodox MK says he’d weigh law shielding Netanyahu from graft charges

Moshe Gafni downplays bribery allegation against PM, saying ‘it isn’t espionage or treason’ and backing so-called ‘French law’ if premier is reelected

By Michael Bachner

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, standing, speaks at the United Torah Judaism party's campaign kickoff in Bnei Brak, on February 24, 2019. (Yehuda Haim/Flash90)

February 24, 2019, 9:42 pm

Ultra-Orthodox party rules out coalition with Lapid

Ex-finance minister ‘damaged both our pockets and our laws,’ says UTJ leader Litzman, whose colleague Gafni endorses ally Netanyahu for PM

By TOI staff

Moshe Kahlon leads a faction meeting in the Israeli parliament, on December 24, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 24, 2018, 7:43 pm

Coalition lawmakers warily welcome demise of ‘difficult’ government

Knesset speaker expresses hope for cleaner campaign season ahead of April elections; finance minister says early poll right decision to ‘keep financial stability’

By Michael Bachner and Raoul Wootliff

United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni chairs a Knesset Finance Committee meeting on March 5, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 22, 2018, 2:55 pm

Israel risks global sanctions as MK drags feet on anti-corruption compliance

Despite danger of international blacklisting for non-compliance with OECD tax exchange, Knesset Finance Committee head demands more time to legalize exemption of Orthodox loan orgs

By Sue Surkes

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (L) speaks with Moshe Lion (R) during a special cabinet meeting for Jerusalem day in Ein Lavan spring in Jerusalem on June 2, 2016. (Marc Israel Sellem/POOL)

October 25, 2018, 9:21 am

Haredi support for Jerusalem mayor candidate said to be part of draft law deal

Moshe Lion reportedly recorded admitting that Defense Minister Liberman promised ultra-Orthodox factions he’ll promote softened enlistment law in exchange for backing

By Michael Bachner

August 23, 2018, 11:17 pm

Ultra-Orthodox MKs slam PM for apparent support of Shabbat construction work

Moshe Gafni says Netanyahu ‘unaware of what’s happening in the country’ while others warn him to ‘back off’ contentious spat over new Tel Aviv bridge

By Michael Bachner and Raoul Wootliff

Illustrative: The wedding of an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic couple, June 25, 2012, one of many expenses people borrow from 'gemachim' to pay for (Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

July 11, 2018, 12:03 pm

Oy gemach! Will transparency put an end to ultra-Orthodox free-loan societies?

Israel faces sanctions if it fails to uphold the Common Reporting Standard. But Haredi MKs fear new rules will wreck a crucial source of financial support for their communities

By Simona Weinglass