Yitzhak Goldknopf
Yitzhak Issachar Goldknopf is an Israeli politician who serves as the leader of Agudat Yisrael and as the leader of the United Torah Judaism party, following the resignation of Yaakov Litzman. He also serves as a member of the Knesset for Agudat Yisrael, and previously served as the Minister of Housing and Construction between 2022 and 2025. He previously served as a member of the Jerusalem City Council.
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Stories...
Oct 1, 2026
Lean Right
UTJ leader Goldknopf has threatened to leave the coalition if the draft law does not include broad exemptions for yeshiva students, adding to Netanyahu's headaches.
Likud sees Goldknopf as a necessary ally but also as a source of tension with the attorney general and the High Court, which could imperil the government's stability.
Oct 1, 2026
Far Right
Goldknopf is not mentioned in these articles but as United Torah Judaism leader he is a key coalition partner on religious issues.
Religious Zionism often clashes with Haredi parties over military draft exemptions and funding priorities, though they ally on religious legislation.
Oct 1, 2026
Far Left
Goldknopf's United Torah Judaism party is leveraging the budget deadline to demand more funding for Haredi institutions and exemptions from military service.
Hadash opposes Goldknopf's sectarian budget demands, arguing they divert funds from Palestinian communities and social services for all.
Sep 26, 2026
Lean Left
The United Torah Judaism leader and housing minister is pressing for a Haredi draft law that exempts yeshiva students, straining the coalition as Yisrael Beiteinu quits over it.
The left opposes the blanket draft exemptions as unequal burden-sharing and cites the coalition crisis as proof Netanyahu cannot govern the Haredi issue.
Sep 23, 2026
Lean Left
The UTJ leader is demanding a draft law that exempts yeshiva students, threatening coalition collapse if it fails.
Labor and Meretz see this as the sharpest example of coalition policy trading away equality for Haredi political support.
Sep 22, 2026
Lean Left
The United Torah Judaism leader has been negotiating draft exemptions for Haredi yeshiva students as part of the coalition's budget and legislative agenda.
Labor and Meretz voters see the Haredi draft exemptions as the clearest example of coalition priorities being bought with money and privilege instead of shared national burden.
Sep 20, 2026
Lean Left
Goldknopf, United Torah Judaism leader, is demanding full draft exemptions for Haredi men as a condition for staying in the coalition.
Labor/Meretz sees him as holding the government hostage on the draft, undermining equality and the army's manpower needs.
Sep 18, 2026
Far Right
The United Torah Judaism leader is not named today, but the Hiddush petition targets haredi schools, which UTJ fiercely defends.
Goldknopf represents the Ashkenazi haredi interest in preserving independent education without core curriculum requirements, a position that Religious Zionists support in principle even as they demand greater integration for their own schools.
Sep 16, 2026
Far Left
Setting conditions for United Torah Judaism's support, including funding for Haredi schools and draft exemptions.
Hadash sees him as prioritizing yeshiva funding over shared burden and equality for Arab citizens and secular Israelis.
Sep 15, 2026
Lean Left
Goldknopf is pushing a Haredi draft exemption bill through the Knesset as United Torah Judaism threatens to leave the coalition without it.
The left opposes the exemption as an unfair burden on secular and national-religious households and as extortion that wins Haredi support at the cost of the military.