United Torah Judaism Refuses to Endorse Netanyahu for First Time in Decades as Gedolei Yisroel Put Yeshiva Bochurim First

In a dramatic development that could significantly weaken Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s chances of forming Israel’s next government, the leadership of United Torah Judaism has decided not to recommend Netanyahu, or any other candidate, to President Isaac Herzog during the presidential consultations, marking a major departure from the party’s longstanding political alignment with the Likud leader.

The decision, announced Wednesday by Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel, follows instructions from the Gedolei Yisroel that the party’s overriding priority must be securing the status of yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit, rather than maintaining an automatic commitment to any political bloc.

The move comes despite an intensive effort by Netanyahu over the past 24 hours to persuade the chareidi lawmakers to support his candidacy, as Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, continues to accumulate recommendations from parties seeking to replace the prime minister.

Degel HaTorah announced that its representatives would refrain from recommending any candidate, citing explicit instructions from the party’s rabbinic leadership.

“At the instruction of Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbeinu Hagaon Rav Dovid Landau shlit”a and Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, the representatives of the faction will not recommend any of the candidates to the president for the formation of the government,” the party declared.

Agudas Yisroel issued a similar announcement through its chairman, MK Yitzchok Goldknopf, explaining that the party’s support would depend on which political leader is prepared to resolve the crisis surrounding the status of Torah learners.

“Gedolei Yisroel shlit”a have instructed Agudas Yisroel chairman MK Rabbi Yitzchok Goldknopf not to recommend any candidate for prime minister,” the statement said.

“As we committed during the elections, the primary mission is to regulate the status of Torah learners, and the candidate who brings a solution to the issue and legislation will receive the party’s support.”

The announcement represents a significant change in the political calculations surrounding the formation of the next government. For decades, United Torah Judaism has generally supported Netanyahu during presidential consultations, making the decision to withhold its recommendation particularly consequential.

According to a report by Channel 12 political correspondent Dafna Liel, Netanyahu made extensive efforts to secure the chareidi party’s support, personally speaking with several United Torah Judaism lawmakers, including Yaakov Asher, Meir Porush, and Elyakim Stark.

Additional efforts reportedly involved contacts with the household of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in an attempt to secure the support of MKs Yitzchok Pindrus and Moshe Weisfish.

Despite those efforts, the rabbinic leadership declined to provide Netanyahu with the automatic endorsement he had sought.

The decision follows repeated statements by Rav Dovid Landau that United Torah Judaism does not belong to any particular political bloc but is committed exclusively to what he has described as the “bloc of the Torah world.”

Rav Landau has emphasized that the overriding responsibility of the chareidi representatives is to protect the ability of yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit to continue learning Torah, regardless of which political arrangement ultimately emerges.

During a recent dinner at the Pillar Hotel in London, Rav Landau delivered a forceful address concerning the challenges facing yeshiva students and kollel yungeleit in Eretz Yisroel, reinforcing the importance of resolving their legal status.

Goldknopf similarly declared that the chareidi parties are not automatically aligned with any political camp.

“We are not in anyone’s bloc; we demand a draft law without sanctions,” he said.

However, the position within United Torah Judaism is not entirely uniform.

According to the report, five lawmakers affiliated with Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel will refrain from recommending Netanyahu, while two lawmakers representing the separate Chomas Toras Yisroel faction, Meir Porush and Elyakim Stark, have not yet reached a final decision.