Archiv: United Torah Judaism (political party)


10.04.2024 - 16:32 [ Times of Israel ]

Of course Netanyahu should go – in an orderly process that gives our enemies cause for fear

(today)

And therefore, as was the case when he insisted on continuing to run the country while in the midst of a corruption trial, and as was the case when he pressed on with his assault on Israeli democracy and briefly fired that defense minister, so too, now, it falls to a potential few good men and women within his own coalition base to tell him that his presence is harming Israel, that his policies empowered and emboldened Hamas, and that far from being uniquely capable of ensuring Israel has the practical and diplomatic room to destroy Hamas, he is almost uniquely incapable of doing so.

10.04.2024 - 16:30 [ New York Times ]

Netanyahu Must Go

(09.04.2024)

Israel must destroy Hamas as a military and political force in the territory while minimizing harm to civilians. It must do what it can to rescue its hostages without jeopardizing the overriding goal of destroying Hamas. It must, by diplomacy or force, push Hezbollah back from Lebanon’s southern border, so that 60,000 Israelis can return safely to their homes in the north. It must take the battle directly, as it did last week in Damascus, to Hamas’s and Hezbollah’s patrons, whether in Syria, Qatar or Iran.

And for all of that to happen effectively, Benjamin Netanyahu must go.

23.01.2024 - 04:44 [ Times of Israel ]

No-confidence motion against Netanyahu fails in Knesset, with only 18 votes in favor

With the government’s popularity plummeting, a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nevertheless garnered only 18 votes in the Knesset on Monday evening, falling far short of the necessary majority to pass in the 120-strong Knesset plenum.

The vote was boycotted by the coalition, whose heads stated earlier in the day that they would “not take part in political theater during wartime.”

22.11.2023 - 04:49 [ Times of Israel ]

Cabinet approves deal for release of 50 hostages in exchange for multi-day ceasefire

In exchange, Israel has agreed to a ceasefire for at least four days for the first time since the outbreak of the war.

12.10.2023 - 14:49 [ Blake Allen / Twitter ]

Obviously we won’t know until more details come out but since the unity government is with Benny Gantz and not Yair Lapid that means that Ben Gvir and Smotrich will remain in government. That’s horrible for a host of reasons

12.10.2023 - 14:45 [ Louis Weijl / Twitter ]

It‘s not clear to me who is and isn‘t in it. Not Lapid (yet), Liberman, nor Michaeli, but Ben Gvir and Smuthrich? What kind of ‚unity‘ is that? We are used to Gantz immediately taking action. As soon as he can move up a step, he forgets principles and agreements.

10.08.2023 - 13:52 [ Haaretz ]

Israeli Minister Accuses AG of Delaying Gender-segregated Parks Pilot Panned by Justice Ministry

Silman wrote a letter to Baharav-Miara on Wednesday, stating that the project had been initiated „following appeals by Haredi and Arab communities.“

However, it has come to light that an extreme right-wing organization has significantly influenced this project.

10.08.2023 - 13:47 [ IsraelHayom.com ]

Exclusive: Pilot program for gender-segregated bathing gets underway

(01.08.2023)

The program, which seeks to touch on a sensitive issue as more religious circle call for segregated bathing hours while liberal groups see this as a slipper slope toward the sidelining of women, will not impact the existing arraignment for mixed-gender bathers as it will take place only between 6 pm to 9 pm and later. Israeli natural springs are usually closed for bathers by 5 p.m.

09.07.2023 - 20:00 [ Haaretz ]

They Incited Rabin‘s Murder. Now They‘re Murdering Israel‘s Democracy

Following Rabin’s murder, the public turned against Netanyahu. Many believed his political career was over. But he was soon brought to power amid a wave of terror by Hamas and a slick campaign capitalizing on the public‘s fears.

And that original assault against democracy, secular law and territorial compromise that launched both Netanyahu’s career and the ascent of the religious right, is today continuing its illiberal advance via a legal hijacking.

23.05.2023 - 21:04 [ Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي / Nitter ]

Protest at the Knesset as Netanyahu government passes a budget granting exorbitant allocations to West Bank settlements and to the ultra-Orthodox communities

23.05.2023 - 21:01 [ Haaretz ]

Thousands of Israelis Protesting Outside Knesset Ahead of Crucial State Budget Vote

The demonstrators are protesting the government’s proposed state budget that is slated to send billions of shekels to the ultra-Orthodox communities. Protest organizers said in a statement that this “isn’t a state budget [that’s being put up for a vote], but rather raiding the public coffers that will destroy Israel’s economy for generations to come.”

20.05.2023 - 22:28 [ Haaretz ]

20th Week of Protests – ‚Robbing Our Children of Their Futures, With Our Money‘: Israelis Protest Controversial Budget, Judicial Overhaul

he Knesset is slated to devote several days next week to debating and passing the budget.

Despite the tension, leaders of all the coalition parties expect the budget to pass next week and say the government is at no real risk of falling. “In the long run, things can’t work this way, but at least for now, the budget will pass,” one minister said. “There’s no immediate threat to the government.”

19.05.2023 - 11:49 [ Times of Israel ]

Reporter for right-wing network attacked while covering anti-government protest

Shalev said he is accustomed to facing animosity at anti-government demonstrations because he reports for Channel 14, which critics consider a mouthpiece for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that the incident the night before had for the first time included physical violence.

He said protesters used their flagpoles to beat him and his crew on the head and body.

“At that point I felt afraid. Until now I have not felt afraid in all the demonstrations I have been to, but here with the flags when it reached the physical level I started to be afraid,” Shalev said.

04.04.2023 - 21:40 [ New York Times ]

Israel Moves Forward With Far-Right Plan for National Guard

(02.04.2023)

The form and leadership of the national guard were yet to be determined and will take months to be fleshed out by a committee of government officials, who will then present their proposal for the cabinet’s approval.

Regardless of the form the guard ultimately takes, the government’s decision on Sunday reflected the influence that figures like Mr. Ben-Gvir, a once-marginal activist, wield within the most right-wing government in Israeli history.

02.04.2023 - 18:35 [ Times of Israel ]

Ministers approve Ben Gvir-led national guard, major budget cuts to fund it

After a heated discussion at their weekly cabinet meeting, ministers voted Sunday in favor of forming a national guard under the command of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, along with a major budget cut across all ministries to fund it.

The controversial force is expected to comprise 2,000 servicemembers who will report directly to the far-right minister and will be tasked with tackling “nationalist crime” and terrorism, and “restoring governance where needed.”

02.04.2023 - 16:07 [ Communist Party of Israel ]

Thousands Rally Against Forming Fascist Ben Gvir-led National Guard

(31.03.2023)

Addressing the protest, the head of the Hadash-Ta’al parliamentary faction likened the National Guard to “the brown shirts” of the Nazi paramilitary, “or the yellow shirts,” MK Ayman Odeh said in reference to the color included in the logo of several Israeli nationalist groups, including the Jewish supremacist Kach movement that Ben Gvir was active in as a teen. Kach was founded by the late extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane, who Ben Gvir and other members of his Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party have described themselves as disciples of. “We won’t allow you to form fascist militias in the service of Kahanism,” Odeh said at the protest.

02.04.2023 - 16:02 [ Haaretz ]

Israel‘s AG, Police and Shin Bet Chiefs Oppose Establishing National Guard Under Ben-Gvir

Ben-Gvir‘s proposal to establish a national guard will be discussed Sunday during the weekly cabinet meeting.

28.03.2023 - 06:52 [ Haaretz ]

Israel‘s Opposition Overtakes Netanyahu Bloc to Reach Majority, Polls Show

According to the polls, conducted by Channel 12 and public broadcaster Kan, if an election were held today, the parties that make up the current ruling coalition – Netanyahu’s Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and United Torah Judaism – would amass a total of just 54 seats, seven short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The opposition, made up of National Unity, Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu, Meretz, Ra’am and Labor, is projected to win 61 seats. Hadash-Ta’al would garner the remaining five seats.

27.03.2023 - 04:35 [ Haaretz ]

Israel‘s Night of Chaos: Growing Calls Inside Netanyahu‘s Coalition to Delay Judicial Overhaul After Defense Minister‘s Sacking, Massive Protests

Netanyahu ally and chairman of ultra-Orthodox party Shas, Arye Dery, reportedly expressed support for halting the process, as did ministers Ron Dermer and Yoav Kish of Likud who spoke to Netanyahu on the subject, according to a source in the party.

Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism party‘s Degel Hatorah faction expressed support for the „prime minister and his decisions,“ while far-right coalition party Otzma Yehudit called on Netanyahu not to stop the legislation.

20.11.2022 - 15:53 [ Haaretz ]

Israel‘s Religious and Far-right Parties Demand Law to Legitimize Gender Segregation

In exchange for joining the coalition, the far-right Religious Zionism and United Torah Judaism parties have demanded legislation that gender separation at public events will not be considered discrimination. Likud has not yet decided whether to grant the demand.

20.11.2022 - 15:41 [ Communist Party of Israel ]

Top Ben Gvir Aide: Legal Adviser for Group that Donates to Rabin Assassin and Jewish Terrorists

Chanamel Dorfman, the adviser who racist Otzma Yehudit chairman MK Itamar Ben Gvir (Religious Zionism) has described as his “right-hand man” helped establish an organization that donates money to incarcerated Jewish terrorists and extremists, among them prime minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassin Yigal Amir, Channel 13 revealed Thursday.

20.11.2022 - 15:36 [ Communist Party of Israel ]

Islamist Ra’am Will ‘Leave Door Open to Dialogue’ With Incoming Far-right Coalition

(15.11.2022)

The Islamist Ra’am party stressed on Sunday that although it sits in the opposition, it will not necessarily vote in line with the bloc that opposes incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will keep the channels of communications open with the next far-right and racist coalition, specifically when it comes to matters that concern Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel.

03.11.2022 - 03:52 [ AtlanticCouncil.org ]

As the election fog clears, Netanyahu poised to ride a hungry, far-right tiger

Conflicting priorities to maximize the performance of their own anchor slates and also strengthen the market shares of their allied factions—with which they would aspire to craft ruling coalitions—were the source of schizophrenic messaging by Likud and Yesh Atid, which left voters to choose in whom to place their trust. Those decisions shaped the current playing field.

02.11.2022 - 09:55 [ Haaretz ]

Kahanism Won. Israel Is Now Closing in on a Right-wing, Religious, Authoritarian Revolution

In recent years, Israel has become terrifyingly more extreme. Everything we were warned about is happening right before our eyes.

02.11.2022 - 09:45 [ Tagesschau.de ]

Wahl in Israel: Netanyahu kann Vorsprung ausbauen

In der Zeitung „Jediot Ahronot“ schrieb die Kolumnistin Sima Kadmon vor der Wahl: „Falls Netanyahu triumphiert, werden dies die letzten Tage des Staates Israel sein, wie wir ihn seit 75 Jahren kennen.“ Seine Kritiker sehen im Ex-Regierungschef eine Gefahr für die Demokratie. Würde er wieder Ministerpräsident werden, könnte das seine Chancen erheblich verbessern, eine Verurteilung oder eine Haftstrafe in den Korruptionsprozessen gegen ihn abzuwenden.

02.11.2022 - 00:55 [ Tagesschau.de ]

Wahl in Israel: Netanyahus Bündnis laut Prognosen vorn

Israel hat gewählt – zum fünften Mal binnen dreieinhalb Jahren. Erste Prognosen sehen das Bündnis von Oppositionsführer und Ex-Premierminister Netanyahu knapp vorn. Er will eine nationalkonservative Koalition schmieden.

02.11.2022 - 00:49 [ Haaretz ]

Israel Election Exit Polls: Netanyahu Secures Razor-thin Majority, Shock Triumph for Far Right

According to Kan 11 public television, the exit polls show:

– Likud: 30 seats
– Yesh Atid: 22 seats
– Religious Zionism: 15 seats
– National Unity Party: 13 seats
– Shas: 10 seats
– United Torah Judaism: 7 seats
– Labor: 5 seats
– Yisrael Beitenu: 5 seats
– The United Arab List: 5 seats
– Meretz: 4 seats
– Hadash-Ta‘al: 4 seats
– Habayit Hayehudi: Under electoral threshold
– Balad: Under electoral threshold

24.10.2022 - 07:36 [ KnessetJeremy.com ]

9 Days to Election – KnessetJeremy Polling Average: Likud 31.6, Yesh Atid 24.3, Smotrich 13.4, Gantz 11.6, Shas 8.1, UTJ 7; Blocs Deadlocked

(October 23, 2022)

Smotrich made the most significant gain with a 0.6 jump. Liberman’s Yisrael Beitenu went up for the second straight week, this time by 0.3.

Likud dropped for the second consecutive week, this time by 0.5. Gantz also went down this week, this time by 0.3. Lapid’s Yesh Atid also lost 0.1.

Overall, we remain stuck at a 60-60 deadlock between the two blocs.

13.06.2021 - 19:08 [ Eylon Levy / Twitter ]

The Bennett children making heart shapes as their father speaks and is heckled. Quite a change from the current first son.

13.06.2021 - 18:49 [ David Brinn / Jerusalem Post ]

Shameful display in Knesset ahead of new gov‘t swearing-in – COMMENT

The shameful scene also revealed that indeed, it was high time for the outgoing members of the government to head to the opposition. As Lapid said, their behavior reminded him why it was so important to replace them. Their concept of democracy and free speech has been distorted beyond recognition by too much time in power.

13.06.2021 - 15:32 [ Eylon Levy / Twitter ]

Honestly, disgusting brats. They won‘t let PM designate Naftali Bennett get a word out of his mouth. #schande

24.04.2021 - 17:57 [ Ynetnews.com ]

United Torah Judaism deliberating on whether to enable Bennett-Lapid gov‘t

The Lithuanian faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party is considering whether to abstain from voting against a government led by Yamina head Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid, Ynet has learned on Thursday, thus enabling the two to form a government and avoid a fifth election round in just two years.

14.04.2021 - 13:20 [ Neil Lazarus / Twitter ]

So #Bennet meets w#Netanyahu. No surprise if will recommend him to President for PM #IsraElex4 #Israel #israelelection BB will still need Mansour 4 a majority

(04.04.2021)

07.04.2021 - 10:38 [ .i24news.tv ]

Israel: Netanyahu to begin coalition talks ahead of meeting with Bennett

Netanyahu to speak with right-wing and religious allies from Shas, UTJ and Religious Zionist party

25.03.2021 - 19:10 [ Haaretz ]

Israel Election Results: How Netanyahu Lost, and Why He Might Still Win

After splitting the opposition, Netanyahu made sure to keep his bloc whole, forcing the three splinter far-right parties National Union, neo-Kahanist Jewish Power and homophobic Noam to unite in the joint Religious Zionism list. This time, he ensured that not one right-wing vote would be squandered.

24.03.2021 - 19:55 [ ORF.at ]

Israel-Wahl: Kleinpartei als Zünglein an der Waage

Likud bleibt zwar mit 30 Mandaten die stärkste politische Kraft, aber selbst mit seinem ultrarechten Rivalen Naftali Bennett von der Jamina-Partei käme sein Lager nur auf 59 von 120 Mandaten. Die arabische Partei Ra’am schafft die 3,25-Prozent-Hürde und ist nun Zünglein an der Waage.

Ra’am erhält fünf Mandate.

24.03.2021 - 13:52 [ New York Times ]

After 4th Vote in 2 Years, Israelis Wonder: When Will the Political Morass End?

Official final results are not expected before Friday. But the partial tallies suggested that both Mr. Netanyahu’s alliance and its opponents would need the support of a small, Islamist Arab party, Raam, to form a majority coalition.

05.03.2021 - 10:43 [ Jerusalem Post ]

Netanyahu drops in polls, Lapid hits 20, Bennett and Sa‘ar tie in third

The bloc that wants Netanyahu to form the next government – Likud, Shas, UTJ and the Religious Zionist Party – received 46 seats.

The bloc that does not want him to remain prime minister – Yesh Atid, New Hope, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, Blue and White and Meretz – received 54.

13.09.2020 - 13:24 [ Haaretz ]

Coronavirus Israel Live: Haredi Minister Quits Netanyahu Gov‘t to Protest Lockdown

Ultra-Orthodox minister and Netanyahu ally Yaakov Litzman resigned from government in protest over an expected lockdown on Sunday.

Litzman is the chairman of the United Torah Judaism party and construction and housing minister. He had threatened to resign earlier Sunday if the coronavirus cabinet votes to impose a two-week lockdown ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

20.12.2019 - 17:20 [ Haaretz ]

Kahanists Gear Up for Third Israeli Election With Far-right Merger

„We must not reach a situation in which one of [the right-wing] parties doesn’t pass the electoral threshold, thus wasting thousands right-wing votes,“ the statement added.

In addition, it said that Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Rafi Peretz and Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir call on National Union‘s Bezalel Smotrich to „Close ranks as soon as today, and join the ranks of religious Zionism. National Union is an inseparable part of the Union of Right-Wing Parties.“

29.09.2019 - 11:59 [ Haaretz ]

If Center-left Forms Gov‘t With Haredis, We May Support It, Arab Israeli MK Says

MK Ofer Shelah of Kahol Lavan, who was interviewed after Tibi, said he did not rule out such a proposal.

18.09.2019 - 17:44 [ Times of Israel ]

Netanyahu to issue press statement after meeting of right-wing factions

While not enough to form a coalition on its own, Channel 12 reports Netanyahu is hoping that Rivlin will consider the 55-seat bloc as a single party and therefore agree to task the premier with forming the next government for having a bigger faction than the standalone Blue and White party.

18.09.2019 - 17:42 [ israelnationalnews.com ]

First publication: ‚Right-wing bloc‘ led by Netanyahu established

It was decided to form a joint coalition negotiations team for all factions in the bloc.

In addition to Netanyahu, the meeting saw the participation of Minister Yariv Levin and faction heads: Yaakov Litzman, Moshe Gafni, Naftali Bennett, Rabbi Rafi Peretz, Ayelet Shaked, and Bezalel Smotrich.

13.09.2019 - 13:59 [ Haaretz ]

Election Poll: Netanyahu Bloc Stronger With Kahanists, Still Needs Lieberman

The poll also contains good news for Netanyahu – it has the far-right Otzma Yehudit party passing the electoral threshold and receiving four seats, giving the right-wing bloc led by Likud 59 seats without the support of Avigdor Lieberman‘s Yisrael Beiteinu – close to the 61 required to create a coalition, with the center-left bloc garnering 54 seats.

16.03.2019 - 12:30 [ Haaretz ]

As Indictment Nears, Where Do Israeli Parties Stand on Bill Granting Netanyahu Immunity?

MK Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the National Union party, has already announced that he supports passing legislation to spare Netanyahu from standing trial while in office. Two other parties, Hayamin Hehadash and United Torah Judaism, have said they would consider supporting such a bill.

But the Kulanu party said it would oppose any such legislation.

22.02.2019 - 20:08 [ israelnationalnews.com ]

Haredi MK: Lapid-Gantz list will cause ‚civil war‘

Knesset Vice Chairman Yisrael Eichler (UTJ) expressed concern over MK Yair Lapid‘s Yesh Atid party joining together with Benny Gantz‘s new „Israel Resilience“ party, Kikar Hashabbat reported.

In his opinion, if the Lapid-Gantz joint party comes to power, it will seriously harm the haredi community, causing a bloodless „civil war.“

07.06.2018 - 09:23 [ Haaretz ]

Israeli Defense Chief Accuses Center-left, ultra-Orthodox Parties of Thwarting ‚Terrorist‘ Lawmaker‘s Removal From Knesset

(4.6.2018) Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday that the reason lawmaker Haneen Zoabi (Joint List) is still sitting in the Knesset is because members of the center-left and ultra-Orthodox parties refuse to support her dismissal.

Lieberman said he „cannot understand why (Deputy Health Minister) Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism), (opposition head) Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union), and Ofer Shelah (Yesh Atid), are supporting this terrorist.“ Lieberman also snapped at Meretz chairwoman Tamar Zandberg, saying: „nobody expects anything else from you.“

04.06.2018 - 18:47 [ Haaretz ]

Israeli Defense Chief Accuses Center-left, ultra-Orthodox Parties of Thwarting ‚Terrorist‘ Lawmaker‘s Removal From Knesset

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday that the reason lawmaker Haneen Zoabi (Joint List) is still sitting in the Knesset is because members of the center-left and ultra-Orthodox parties refuse to support her dismissal.

Lieberman said he „cannot understand why (Deputy Health Minister) Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism), (opposition head) Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union), and Ofer Shelah (Yesh Atid), are supporting this terrorist.“ Lieberman also snapped at Meretz chairwoman Tamar Zandberg, saying: „nobody expects anything else from you.“