Yitzhak Goldknopf

Illustrative: The Negev community of Carmit, November 18, 2022. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90)

Government advances plans for new community near Gaza Strip

Coalition moves forward with construction of ‘Hanon’ for at least 500 families, reportedly eyes restart of controversial Jerusalem development beyond Green Line

Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf arrives for a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on January 3, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

New inter-ministerial cabinet to tackle Israel’s housing crisis

By Danielle Nagler

February 5, 2023, 11:13 pm

Government advances plans for new community near Gaza Strip

Coalition moves forward with construction of ‘Hanon’ for at least 500 families, reportedly eyes restart of controversial Jerusalem development beyond Green Line

By Danielle Nagler

January 31, 2023, 1:44 pm

New inter-ministerial cabinet to tackle Israel’s housing crisis

Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf to head committee tasked with delivering more home-building in a bid to lower prices

By Danielle Nagler

Aryeh Deri arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, January 22, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 22, 2023, 4:15 pm

Deri claims he and Netanyahu always planned to obey court, vows to keep leading Shas

Lapid pans government ‘circus’ over party leader’s dismissal and Religious Zionism’s boycott of cabinet meeting; Gantz laments that carrying out ruling became ‘not so clear-cut’

By TOI staff

Shas leader Aryeh Deri, the Minister of Interior and Health, with supporters outside his home in Jerusalem on January 18, 2023, hours after the High Court said he cannot hold ministerial office. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 22, 2023, 5:33 am

Tragically, Deri’s ‘great revolution’ will continue even if he can’t outflank court

Shas leader is vowing to keep championing ‘the poorer echelons,’ but he and his ultra-Orthodox colleagues do the opposite — with calamitous consequences, as the PM well knows

By David Horovitz

Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) with incoming Justice Minister Yariv Levin in the Knesset on December 13, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 14, 2023, 2:36 am

Poll: 55% of Likud voters back judicial overhaul, but 27% fear for Israeli democracy

Channel 12 survey shows most who voted for Netanyahu’s party hope laws to radically curb the judiciary pass, just 17% oppose; 40% want to push legislation through dialogue, talks

By TOI staff

Transportation Minister Miri Regev (right) sits with Israel Railways CEO Michael Maixner (left) and Moshe Shimoni, chairman of the Israel Railways board of directors, in Jerusalem, January 11, 2023. (Transportation Minister's Office)

January 11, 2023, 6:43 pm

Regev says Shabbat train work to be reduced, answering Haredi party’s demands

Transportation minister says work planned for Saturdays to be spread across weekdays, though key safety tasks will continue as planned; predecessor decries ‘surrender to blackmail’

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Ultra-Orthodox men clash with police and security guards during a protest against construction work for the Jerusalem Light Rail, on June 8, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

January 8, 2023, 7:30 pm

Economy Ministry rebuffs Haredi minister, says rail work on Shabbat will continue

UTJ had earlier demanded maintenance work on intercity rail system be halted on Jewish day of rest; Netanyahu said to promise non-critical work will be halted

By Ash Obel

Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf at his handover ceremony from outgoing minister Ze'ev Elkin, at the Housing Ministry in Jerusalem, January 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 8, 2023, 11:04 am

Haredi party demands end to Shabbat train work, in first test for coalition

Likud-held Transportation Ministry officials refuse, warning of service delays if maintenance is pushed to weekdays

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at the Knesset on January 2, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 3, 2023, 5:38 am

Communications minister dials back ‘kosher phone’ reforms opposed by ultra-Orthodox

After meeting with Haredi faction heads, Likud’s Karhi scraps moves aimed at integrating internet-less phones into wider telecoms market, delays plan to phase out 2G, 3G service

By TOI staff

Members of the new Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pose for a group photo at the president's residence in Jerusalem, on December 29, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 29, 2022, 1:20 pm

Who’s who in the new Netanyahu-led government

A look at the 32 ministers, just 6 of them women, in Israel’s 37th government from Likud and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox partners, and some of their newly created ministries

By TOI staff

Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, right, shakes hands with United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzchak Goldknopf in the Knesset plenum 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

United Torah Judaism party chief MK Yitzchak Goldknopf at a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on December 5, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

December 26, 2022, 7:56 pm

UTJ’s Goldknopf withdraws demand for security cabinet seat after protests

Bid by Haredi party leader who did not serve in military for seat on high level defense panel drew fire from partners, opposition

By TOI staff

Rabbi Chaim Druckman attends the campaign launch of the right-wing Yamina party, ahead of the Israeli general elections, February 12, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

December 26, 2022, 1:26 am

Rabbi Druckman lauded and mourned by politicians as friend and counsel

Leaders eulogize spiritual leader of religious Zionist movement; Netanyahu laments ‘great light’ that has been extinguished

By Ash Obel

UTJ MK Yitzchak Goldknopf seen during a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 5, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

December 25, 2022, 12:20 pm

UTJ head used Haredi educational network to enrich family with public funds – report

Yitzhak Goldknopf’s nonprofits said to have liaised between government and the groups actually running schools, taking a brokerage fee; report says he drew multiple large salaries

By TOI staff

MK Moshe Gafni, right, and MK Yitzhak Goldknopf speak during a meeting of the United Torah Judaism party at the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 5, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

December 23, 2022, 11:56 am

Haredi faction balks at agreement with Likud, demands reopening of talks

Degel HaTorah, one of UTJ’s 2 factions, decries deal with 2nd faction Agudat Yisrael as ignoring crucial issues, opposes party chair Goldknopf serving on security cabinet

By TOI staff