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United Torah Judaism

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center), Justice Minister Yariv Levin (left), and Defense Minister Israel Katz (right), with ultra-Orthodox MKs Yitzchak Goldknopf, Moshe Gafni and Meir Porush behind them, seen in the Knesset shortly before the vote on a law banning arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers and legitimizing ongoing mass ultra-Orthodox non-enlistment, July 14, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 2, 2026, 5:10 pm
Opposition pans Netanyahu ‘spin’ as he distances himself from Haredi draft evasion law
PM reportedly says he will not pursue further legislation seeking to exempt ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers from arrest; Bennett: He ‘thinks the serving public is dumb’
By Sam Sokol
Rabbi Dov Lando speaks on April 26, 2026. (Courtesy)
July 20, 2026, 7:30 pm
Top Haredi rabbi says religious soldiers committing murder; Netanyahu issues rare criticism
Degel HaTorah spiritual leader suggests Israel sends soldiers to war ‘for the honor of the state,’ which ‘incites murder’; Haredi lawmakers defend his comments
By ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest against conscription to the IDF, July 15, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 15, 2026, 7:20 pm
High Court freezes implementation of law banning arrest of Haredi draft-dodgers
Court cites previous rulings and ‘weighty arguments’ by petitioners who argue law is discriminatory. Cabinet minister, MKs call on police to disobey the order
By Jeremy Sharon
Minister of Heritage Amichay Eliyahu attends a unity conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 22, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 12, 2026, 4:04 pm
Otzma Yehudit minister suggests far-right party may woo Shas voters
Comments by Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu follow Haredi party’s refusal to pledge support for another Netanyahu-led coalition until draft exemption law is passed
By ToI Staff
Combat veterans suffering from PTSD react during a House Committee hearing on the so-called Torah Study bill, at the Knesset on July 9, 2026. Yitzhak Goldknopf is seated with back to camera. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 9, 2026, 9:17 pm
Haredi parties give a little ground: Basic Law won’t explicitly put Torah study on par with IDF service
Bill advances in 6-4 committee vote, with final Knesset readings slated for next week; combat veterans with PTSD interrupt hearing: ‘You’ve exploited us for political gain; rebel Likud MK: ‘Compromise’ is mere ‘window dressing’
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center in Jerusalem, July 5, 2026.(Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 7, 2026, 8:54 am
Netanyahu said seeking Haredi loyalty after election, but party leaders noncommittal
‘First you pass the laws, then we’ll talk,’ United Torah Judaism said to tell PM; Netanyahu also seeking greater control over Likud slate, reportedly warns that current list can’t win
By ToI Staff and Ariela Karmel
MK Yitzhak Pindrus (left) attends a meeting of the Education, Culture and Sports Committee at the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 29, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); MK Naama Lazimi attends a court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on petitions seeking to overturn the election of attorney Michael Rabello as State Comptroller, June 18, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 29, 2026, 3:55 pm
Haredi MK Pindrus says opposition lawmaker Lazimi should be shot in legs for protesting
Asked if he believes cops should fire at demonstrators who block roads, including his party chair, UTJ lawmaker says: ‘Sure, but start with Lazimi’; Democrats MK files police complaint
By Ethan Rubinson
United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchak Goldknopf (left) and his senior aide Motti Babchik attend a meeting of the Knesset House Committee in Jerusalem, June 16, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 26, 2026, 2:02 am
Knesset to hold marathon discussions next week to fast-track Basic Law on Torah study
Parliament’s legal adviser warns lawmakers against accelerated process, as MKs seek to push through legislation before Knesset’s expected dissolution ahead of elections
By Ariela Karmel and Stav Levaton
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators block Route 1 near Jerusalem during a protest against the imprisonment of yeshiva students who failed to comply with military recruitment orders, June 24, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 25, 2026, 12:58 am
Haredi convoys spark clashes, traffic chaos; most protesters fail to reach IDF prison
Police assess 1,000 cars joined anti-draft demonstration; video shows some members of public reacting violently to protesters; pregnant woman reportedly hurt in car accident caused by convoy
By Sam Sokol
United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 17, 2026, 6:46 am
UTJ lawmaker Porush warns Haredim may go after AG ‘with sticks and stones’
Ultra-Orthodox MK warns his faction could soon ‘completely disassociate ourselves from cooperation with other government authorities that are taking part in the persecution against us’
By Sam Sokol
MK Moshe Gafni attends Finance committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, April 29, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 9, 2026, 10:37 pm
Finance Committee moves to restore daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers
New bill would only consider the employment status of a child’s mother, no longer examine the father’s eligibility for conscription; Finance, Justice ministries oppose legislation
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
Rabbi Dov Lando casts his vote at a voting station on the morning of the Municipal Elections, in Bnei Brak, on February 27, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90/ File)
May 13, 2026, 5:28 pm
Bring it on? Why the ultra-Orthodox, the opposition, and maybe Netanyahu think earlier elections will work for them
Haredi leaders believe forcing the vote on an earlier date will boost their support, the PM can see some potential benefit, and the opposition is evidently delighted. Thing is, they can’t all be right
By David Horovitz
Degel HaTorah MKs meet with the spiritual leader of the Knesset faction, Rabbi Dov Lando, in his home in the central Israel city of Bnei Brak, May 12, 2026. (Courtesy Rabbi Dov Lando)
May 12, 2026, 9:54 pm
Haredi factions push to dissolve Knesset, increasing likelihood of slightly earlier elections
Degel HaTorah spiritual chief says it has ‘lost trust’ in PM over failure to pass army exemption bill; move would need support of Shas to succeed; opposition hopes to begin process Wednesday
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
MK's Moshe Gafni and Ya'akov Asher attend a United Torah Judaism party meeting at the Knesset on July 10, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
November 17, 2025, 11:34 am
Security beefed up for 2 UTJ lawmakers over threats from Haredi extremists — report
Gafni and Asher receive second-highest level of protection after rioters targeted latter’s home, smashed Shas MK’s car window on Saturday night to protest conscription bill
By ToI Staff
Amiram Ben Uliel, convicted of the Duma arson murder in July 2015, in which three members of the Dawabsha family were killed, attends a hearing on his appeal, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, on March 7, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 28, 2025, 5:57 pm
Dozens of coalition MKs, ministers call on Herzog to free Jewish security prisoners
Members of Likud, Shas, Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism and UTJ make demand in response to Israel’s release of Palestinian terrorists under ceasefire deal
By Sam Sokol
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