Ultra-Orthodox Parties Await Coalition Outreach Amid Political Gridlock
Ultra-Orthodox parties await official coalition outreach five days post-election, maintaining their demand for a yeshiva military exemption bill as coalition talks stall.
Five days after the elections, ultra-Orthodox parties are still awaiting an official approach from candidates seeking to form the next government. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Yisrael Beiteinu or other political figures have reached out, while the factions continue to condition any political arrangement on passing a military exemption bill for yeshiva students.
The silence from potential coalition leaders highlights the current political gridlock. While Gadi Eisenkot has shown no immediate interest in partnering with ultra-Orthodox parties, Netanyahu's lack of outreach stems from the right-wing bloc's current failure to secure a majority. Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism leaders are coordinating their next steps, including whether to endorse a candidate to the president.
UTJ leaders Yaakov Asher, Yitzhak Goldknopf, and Meir Porush are scheduled to meet to determine their strategy and address the wave of speculation. A party spokesperson dismissed unauthorized reports, stating that any publication not issued officially is denied in advance to prevent false narratives from dominating the public discourse.
