United Torah Judaism

Knesset advances 2026 state budget in first reading amid coalition crisis over haredi draft

The Degel Hatorah faction within United Torah Judaism received a green light from spiritual leader Rabbi Dov Lando to vote in favor of the state budget, Lando's office said.

|ByKESHET NEEV
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen after the vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, January 28, 2026.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet seen at the Knesset plenum, June 11, 2025

Outcome of state budget vote uncertain amid coalition crisis over haredi draft

By law, if the state budget is not approved in all three readings by the end of March, when the fiscal year closes, the Knesset will automatically dissolve, and elections will be called.

|ByKESHET NEEV
A PLENUM session at the Knesset.

2026 budget reading puts government at risk, after months of ideological sparring - analysis

If the vote is postponed, or if the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties choose not to support it and it falls, then for all intents and purposes the government will fall with it.

|ByHERB KEINON
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023.

Netanyahu convenes emergency meeting as haredi parties threaten to block state budget vote

Both haredi parties have threatened to withhold support for the state budget unless agreements are reached on the draft law to avoid conscription.

|ByKESHET NEEV

Netanyahu survives by putting off coalition conflict, problems - analysis

On multiple occasions, Netanyahu has pushed off fulfilling his promises to his coalition partners to a later date.

MAY 23, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu sits in the Knesset plenum, earlier this week. Operation Shield and Arrow fell short of his claims of a new equation against Islamic Jihad and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, says the writer.

Israel's budget: Netanyahu gives in to demands from haredim, Ben-Gvir

The impasse developed last week after Agudat Yisrael, the Hassidic faction within UTJ, demanded over NIS 600 million additional coalition funds.

MAY 22, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir walks next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ministers during "40 signatures" debate, at the plenum hall of the Knesset

Are Israel's haredim leaning Left or Right? - opinion

The deep fear expressed by the leadership of Israelis haredim is not of external criticism, but of an internal blurring of identity and straying from the path.

MAY 8, 2023ByELIYAHU BERKOVITS
RABBI GERSHON Edelstein, spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah: He decided to publish the call in ‘Yated Ne’eman’ not to participate in right-wing demonstrations.

Haredim declare boycott of Angel bakery after Bar-Lev protests in Bnei Brak

Haredi MKs questioned the legitimacy of the bakery's kashrut as it is chaired by Bar Lev, and claimed that the former minister "has no respect for the Torah."

MAY 4, 2023ByTZVI JOFFRE
Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev at the Knesset, May 31, 2022.

Israeli gov't will collapse without new IDF draft bill, top haredi minister warns

UTJ chairman and minister Yitzhak Goldknopf failed to provide a deadline for the re-negotiation of the haredi draft bill.

MAY 3, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
LIKUD LEADER BENJAMIN Netanyahu shakes hands with United Torah Judaism MK Yitzhak Goldknopf in the Knesset last week. If Netanyahu’s promise of a full budget for all haredi educational institutions is realized, the already-low incentive to provide core studies will disappear entirely.

Israel to mark Remembrance Day amidst sharp controversy

Few ministers cancel participation in ceremonies following bereaved families’ requests

APRIL 21, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, ELIAV BREUER
IDF soldiers prepare for Remembrance Day at the graves of fallen soldiers at the Har Herzl military cemetery, April 23, 2023.

UTJ demands that haredi Draft Law amendment pass before budget

The coalition leaders are set to meet Sunday to discuss the issue further.

APRIL 15, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Haredi men protest outside the draft office in Jerusalem on November 28.

UTJ's Moshe Gafni asks Benny Gantz to join gov't coalition - report

Gafni is reportedly seeking to increase the balance in the coalition by adding Gantz and the National Unity party. 

MARCH 30, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
THE KNESSET Finance Committee’s incoming chairman, United Torah Judaism’s Moshe Gafni, presents an anti-economic bill that challenges the capitalist zeal of incoming finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Israelis protest in front of UTJ's Moshe Gafni's house in Bnei Brak

Despite calls by Gafni to his supporters not to arrive and confront the protesters, dozens of Bnei Brak residents came to the scene.

MARCH 14, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Protests in front of Moshe Gafni's house in Bnei Brak, March 14 2023.

Israel's death penalty, haredi ideology and Yisrael Beytenu's role - opinion

The death penalty for terrorists bill may pass the Knesset in what may be a dream come true for some and a horrific nightmare for others.

MARCH 8, 2023ByELIYAHU BERKOVITS
THE UNITED Torah Judaism (UTJ) parliamentary faction holds a meeting in the Knesset. In the coalition, only UTJ abstained from the vote on the death penalty.