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Ya'akov Asher

United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf and MKs Ya'akov Tessler and Meir Porush arrive for a court hearing on a petition against the kosher cellphone reform, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, July 28, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 29, 2026, 5:36 am
Angry with PM, Haredi MKs said planning to allow formation of Eisenkot-led government
Pair of UTJ lawmakers reportedly planning to abstain if vote held to swear in minority government led by Yashar head, amid anger at Netanyahu’s failure to pass draft-dodging law
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in Jerusalem, September 2012. (Flash90)
September 16, 2026, 8:31 pm
High Court won’t reverse AG’s decision to bar state-funded memorial for Shas Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Court decides petition moot since event can’t be planned in time for intended October 6 date; religious rights group says Shas election candidate, IDF reservist, should be disqualified
By Jeremy Sharon and Ariela Karmel
Police use a water cannon to disperse ultra-Orthodox demonstrators during an anti-conscription demonstration in Jerusalem, May 23, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 22, 2026, 5:20 pm
Knesset approves first reading of bill banning use of ‘Skunk’ spray on protesters
Rights groups, medical experts and lawmakers pan firing of putrid liquid from water cannons on demonstrators; ex-police superintendent calls for tighter oversight but opposes ban
By Sam Sokol
Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate's Planning and Personnel Management Division (right), speaks at a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting, December 2, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
December 2, 2025, 8:29 pm
IDF personnel head: We can absorb any number of Haredi recruits if given advance warning
Some coalition MKs said to face threats of punishment if they keep speaking out against draft exemption bill; Likud MK bullish on bill’s chances; two far-right MKs noncommital
By Sam Sokol
MK's Moshe Gafni, left, 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
A police officer stands next to a broken car window in footage of the mob attack on Shas MK Yoav Ben-Tzur's car in the Jerusalem area, November 15, 2025. (Screenshot from X)
November 16, 2025, 6:08 am
Haredi crowds smash MK’s car window, protest at another’s home in furor over draft bill
Mob targeting Shas lawmaker Yoav Ben-Tzur draws widespread condemnation; Bnei Brak home of UTJ’s Ya’akov Asher also sees protests
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
Flames erupt after an Iranian missile attack in Haifa, northern Israel, June 15, 2025. (Magen David Adom)
June 18, 2025, 10:53 pm
Mayors demand government take quick action to compensate victims of Iranian strikes
Daily cost of aiding victims exceeds NIS 15 million, says Federation of Local Authorities; Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav calls on government to ‘not be stingy’ with assistance
By Sam Sokol
Then-Knesset Finance Committee chair Moshe Gafni (3rd from left) and other ultra-Orthodox lawmakers pictured in the Knesset as the 2025 state budget law is passed, March 25, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
May 5, 2025, 11:07 pm
Haredi parties to boycott government votes over failure to pass IDF exemption law
Ultra-Orthodox MK warns that if legislation doesn’t pass during current Knesset session, ‘we will have a very big problem sitting in such a government’
By Sam Sokol
Yisrael Beytenu party chairman MK Avigdor Liberman (left) leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on March 31, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90); Rabbi Dov Lando seen during a meeting to discuss the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, in Bnei Brak, April 5, 2024. (Shlomi Cohen/Flash90)
April 3, 2025, 12:30 am
With only 2% of Haredim heeding IDF draft orders, Liberman urges action against leaders
Opposition MK accuses senior ultra-Orthodox Rabbis Dov Lando and Yitzhak Yosef of promoting evasion during wartime, a crime punishable by 15 years in prison
By Sam Sokol
Israelis enjoy the beach on a hot summer day in Tel Aviv, June 2, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
July 16, 2023, 12:17 pm
Drownings in first half of beach season nearing total for entire period last year
Knesset committee to examine rising toll at the shore, which has seen 21 people lose their lives in past three months, compared to 26 in April-October 2022
By Stuart Winer
Members of the Knesset Honor Guard, Home Front Command, firefighters, IDF, Israel Police and Magen David Adom Emergency Medical Services participate in an emergency drill simulating an earthquake at the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 13, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
February 13, 2023, 3:12 pm
Israel can expect ‘similar sights’ to Turkey if major quake strikes, official warns
Knesset committee is told that major cities including Jerusalem and Haifa are in danger if disaster hits, chair says state should invest more in preparedness
By Michael Horovitz
Ya'akov Asher, head of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee, center, leads a committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 10, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 6, 2023, 7:24 pm
Knesset to review earthquake readiness next week, as state comptroller sounds alarm
Englman says deadly regional temblors are a ‘bright warning light’ that action is needed to secure hundreds of thousands of buildings; PM orders NSC to carry out assessment
By ToI Staff
People enjoy a hot summer day at the Ein Lavan Spring in the Jerusalem Mountains, July 28, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 24, 2023, 9:10 pm
Outrage over UTJ bill to gender-segregate bathing at national park springs
Proposal by ultra-Orthodox lawmakers calls for 15% of operating hours to be divided between men and women; opposition MKs slam move as establishing ‘religious state’
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Workers prepare matzah for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover at the 'Yehuda Matzos' plant in Jerusalem on March 16, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 23, 2023, 11:16 pm
UTJ submits bill to ban hametz from hospitals during Passover
Progressive religious voices denounce proposal, say it will have a ‘boomerang effect’ and drive people away from Judaism
By Judah Ari Gross
Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, right, shakes hands with United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf in the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem on November 21, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
December 28, 2022, 9:16 am
UTJ inks coalition deal with Likud, ending internal squabbling ahead of swearing in
Agreement says Haredi party will get Housing Ministry and newly rebranded Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition Ministry, 3 deputy ministers and chairmanship of 4 Knesset committees
By Michael Bachner
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