A traditional ally of Netanyahu, the United Torah Judaism party is not recommending any candidate to form the government.
Received by Isaac Herzog on Thursday, the Orthodox party, which has seven members of parliament, made the status of yeshiva students its priority in the negotiations.
A traditional ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, the United Torah Judaism party will not recommend any lawmaker to form the next Israeli government. The Orthodox party announced its decision to President Isaac Herzog on Thursday, at the start of the second day of consultations in Jerusalem.
Knesset member Yitzhak Pindrus explained that, for his party, protecting Torah students took precedence over forming a government. He called on the next government to make their situation a priority. “We came to talk about issues, not people,” he said.
At this stage, the decision deprives Benjamin Netanyahu of the Orthodox party’s seven endorsements, without prejudging its participation in a possible coalition.
Despite this, the Otzma Yehudit Party, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, threw its support behind Netanyahu. Additionally, on Wednesday, Shas, the Religious Zionism party, and Zehut had recommended that the outgoing prime minister be given the mandate.
Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Liberman, had come out in favor of Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party.
Likud and the Jewish Power party are expected to recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, while the Democrats, Ra’am, the Joint List, Beyachad, and Yashar are expected to support Gadi Eisenkot.
Following the consultations, Isaac Herzog will appoint the member of parliament tasked with forming the next government. The appointee will have 28 days to try to secure a majority, with a possible 14-day extension.