Israeli Politicsupdated 1h ago2 min read
United Torah Judaism Refuses to Endorse Any Candidate in Herzog Consultations, Leaving Netanyahu Isolated
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United Torah Judaism declines to endorse Netanyahu in Herzog consultations. The move leaves Netanyahu isolated and weakens his path to form government.
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UTJ withholds endorsement
United Torah Judaism told President Isaac Herzog on Thursday that it would not endorse any candidate to form the next government, leaving Benjamin Netanyahu without the ultra-Orthodox party’s backing. The representatives told Herzog they would not endorse any candidate to form the next government, saying the party was not committed to either political bloc. United Torah Judaism declined to recommend Netanyahu to stay as prime minister while also not siding with Gadi Eisenkot.
“Tell me you voted for Mahal (the Likud) without saying you voted for Mahal (the Likud).”
United Torah Judaism’s decision followed instructions to both factions of the seven-seat party, Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael, not to endorse a candidate. i24NEWS said Herzog asked during the consultations what would happen the day Netanyahu leaves politics, and the Democrats general manager responded on X with the remark, "Tell me you voted for Mahal (the Likud) without saying you voted for Mahal (the Likud)."
Endorsements and the 61-seat test
Herzog continued consultations in Jerusalem after the October 27 election ended in deadlock, with Netanyahu and Eisenkot both failing to secure enough votes for a majority.
Reuters said Herzog was due to meet Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot to decide which of the two men to pick to form a government, and it said Herzog had until November 11 to decide.
Ynetnews said a governing coalition generally requires the backing of at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset, and it said Eisenkot was projected to receive backing from 67 lawmakers compared with 46 for Netanyahu.
United Torah Judaism’s decision left Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with a clear lead in recommendations, with the backing of 56 lawmakers after Ra’am declared that its eight lawmakers would recommend him, compared to Netanyahu’s now 46.
Hürriyet Daily News said Herzog would meet representatives of the major parties later on Nov. 5 before tasking one lawmaker with forming a government, making it likely he would ask Eisenkot.
Military exemptions drive bargaining
United Torah Judaism linked its refusal to endorse any candidate to the status of military service exemptions for Torah students, with Hürriyet Daily News saying the party’s immediate item was "sorting out the status of Torah students." UTJ representatives made clear that their support for any future government would depend on legislation preserving those exemptions, and it said the demand posed a major obstacle to cooperation with Eisenkot’s bloc. United Torah Judaism’s leaders urged their followers not to support any candidate and said the leaders felt disappointed with Netanyahu because he failed to push through legislation that formalizes the exemption from military service for students of rabbinic academies.
The discontent of the ultra-Orthodox was related to Netanyahu’s refusal to exempt religious youths from mandatory military service, and it said UTJ’s seven seats were strategic in Israel’s fragmented political landscape. Reuters said Netanyahu remained prime minister in a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed, or through another election which must be held if no candidate succeeds, as Herzog wrapped up party meetings before deciding whom to task.