Update: Ultra-Orthodox UTJ Declines to Recommend Netanyahu, Leaving Eisenkot Ahead 56-46
It is the first time in more than two decades the United Torah Judaism party has not backed Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister, as President Isaac Herzog weighs who gets the first try at forming a government.
Learn more ›JERUSALEM —
The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party told President Isaac Herzog on Thursday morning, Nov. 5, that it would not recommend anyone for prime minister, All Israel News and the Times of Israel reported. “We received instructions from the rabbis not to recommend anyone for Prime Minister,” UTJ representatives said at the start of the meeting.
Learn more ›All Israel News called it the first time in more than two decades that UTJ has not recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With UTJ out, Netanyahu has the recommendations of 46 lawmakers and Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot has 56, after Ra'am's eight were counted for Eisenkot, the outlet reported. Shas, Religious Zionism and Jewish Power back Netanyahu; Together, Yisrael Beitenu, The Democrats and Ra'am back Eisenkot.
UTJ lawmaker Yitzhak Pindrus said any new government should put what he called “the persecution of Torah scholars” at the top of its agenda. The Times of Israel reported that the party broke with Netanyahu over his failure so far to pass a law protecting military-draft exemptions for yeshiva students. Herzog asked the UTJ delegation whether it would pass a conscription law with broader agreement. Later Thursday, Pindrus said there were no contacts “whatsoever” with the left-wing bloc.
Learn more ›Herzog's consultations, which began Wednesday, Nov. 4, with the smallest parties, were to end with Likud on Thursday evening. Netanyahu's Likud won 27 seats, the most of any party. Jewish Power met Herzog Thursday morning and recommended Netanyahu.
The president usually gives the mandate to the candidate with the most backers. That leader then has up to 42 days to form a coalition, and if he fails, Herzog can turn to someone else. Recommendations are separate from coalition deals: All Israel News said neither UTJ nor Ra'am is sure to join an Eisenkot government, and both are seen as more likely to support a minority government from outside.
See where this is ›What we don't know yet: Whether Herzog will hand Eisenkot the mandate, whether the Joint List will recommend anyone, and whether either leader can reach the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Likud had not commented publicly on UTJ's decision when this story was written.
