Yitzhak Goldknopf

October 4, 2023, 9:37 am

Haredi minister warns he’ll quit if bill for draft exemption delayed

UTJ leader Yitzhak Goldknopf says law must advance when Knesset reconvenes for winter session later this month, stresses it’s his party’s only demand

By ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, right, arrive for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 27, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

September 27, 2023, 10:04 pm

Haredi minister presses government to keep its word on army draft exemptions

Goldknopf leaves note on cabinet secretary’s cabinet papers reminding him of promise to work on legislation in coming Knesset winter session

By ToI Staff

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on September 10, 2023 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

September 10, 2023, 1:27 pm

Gallant and two other ministers say government must respect High Court rulings

Netanyahu has been noncommittal when asked if he’d adhere to potential decision striking down law; PM, at cabinet meeting, doesn’t mention Tuesday’s reasonableness hearing

By Alexander Fulbright

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)

August 13, 2023, 11:55 pm

Ultra-Orthodox parties said to refuse Netanyahu request to compromise on draft bill

Due to military pressure, PM reportedly trying to reach agreement for a less-drastic version of conscription law

By ToI Staff

File: Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked together with Supreme Court President Esther Hayut, former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, and other members of the Israeli Judicial Selection Committee at a meeting of the committee in the Ministry of Justice in Jerusalem, February 22, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90/File)

August 4, 2023, 6:47 am

PM aide: We’ll remake the Judicial Selection Committee, shelve rest of overhaul

Cabinet secretary: Coalition will seek opposition agreement on main bill in the judicial remake; if no deal, will politicize entire panel, with each bloc getting half the delegates

By ToI Staff

United Torah Judaism leader Yitzchak Goldknopf at a conference in Tel Aviv, December 7, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

July 20, 2023, 9:53 pm

Key Haredi newspaper questions wisdom of continued backing of judicial overhaul

Editorial in ‘Yated Ne’eman,’ aligned with United Torah Judaism party, suggests that the harm – including greater vitriol toward ultra-Orthodox – outweigh benefits of planned laws

By Canaan Lidor

Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf attends a United Torah Judaism faction meeting at the Knesset on July 10, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

July 12, 2023, 1:17 pm

Haredi minister: PM promised me override bill, ‘imperative’ for coalition survival

United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf says he was assured the contentious measure will become law; days ago, Netanyahu insisted it was dead

By ToI Staff

Religious Zionism head Bezalel Smotrich (standing) with United Torah Judaism leader Yitzchak Goldknopf at the Knesset on November 21, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2023, 2:29 pm

Netanyahu gives UTJ nod to pay NIS 250m to yeshiva students, ending budget boycott

As final budget votes begin in Knesset, government secures critical support for two-year, trillion-shekel plan

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a cabinet meeting held in the Western Wall tunnels on May 21, 2023 (Kobi Gideon / GPO)

May 21, 2023, 4:30 pm

Netanyahu vows state budget will pass, says coalition differences can be bridged

Pushing back against criticism over funding for Haredi schools that don’t teach core studies, PM claims he is leveling the playing field; Gantz: Ultra-Orthodox kids deserve better

By ToI Staff

Yisrael Beytenu leader MK Avigdor Liberman at the Knesset on May 18, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 21, 2023, 11:00 am

Liberman: PM ‘should suffer in hell’ for not making Haredi schools teach core studies

Yisrael Beytenu head says Netanyahu government’s subsidies will doom many to remain in poverty; predicts UTJ, Otzma Yehudit will get ‘backdoor’ funds

By ToI Staff

Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf arrives for a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 7, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 21, 2023, 3:50 am

Coalition tensions escalate amid Haredi demands for more funds ahead of budget vote

UTJ head reportedly threatens to thwart passage of budget — without which government will fall — unless Netanyahu government okays NIS 600 million ($164 million) more by Sunday

By ToI Staff

File: Noam chair Avi Maoz speaks during a function at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on March 20, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

May 19, 2023, 7:25 pm

Far-right MK threatens to vote against budget if ‘Jewish identity’ unit not formed

Avi Maoz says ruling bloc will be down a member if cabinet doesn’t discuss allocating $90 million for new department that Netanyahu promised him

By ToI Staff

May 18, 2023, 11:48 pm

Dueling ministers said threatening to quit government over budget demands

Finance Minister Smotrich denies report he’s warning he’ll resign if Haredi parties’ demands for further funds are met

By ToI Staff

The Brothers in Arms group holds a protest outside the home of Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf in Jerusalem, May 16, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 16, 2023, 12:55 pm

Mayors warn they won’t transfer local taxes to coalition’s contentious planned fund

Municipal leaders of Givatayim and Ramat Gan say they’ll take matter to court; strike continues, but children return to school; protesters rally outside housing minister’s home

By ToI Staff

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir walks past Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (seated, left), Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Infrastructure and Energy Minister Israel Katz in the Knesset plenum on May 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 4, 2023, 2:01 pm

Daily Briefing May 4: Ministers ‘threaten’ coalition breakup; UK coronation preview

Editor David Horovitz analyzes the latest Knesset theatrics; diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman on abducted Ukrainian children and strengthened ties with EU

By ToI Staff