Yitzhak Goldknopf

Israel’s election campaign lacks substance, fresh leadership, and vision - opinion

From national security to the haredi draft, Israel’s most pressing challenges have received little serious attention from candidates seeking to lead the country.

Voters casting ballots in Israel's 25th Knesset election
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walk near an electoral banner for the Reservist-Economic Party  led by Yoaz Hendel (R) and Yaron Zelekha (L) in Bnei Barak, near Tel Aviv, October 18, 2026

Yoaz Hendel: Reservists are the key to breaking Israel’s political deadlock - opinion

 The launch of the new  People of Israel party, led by Ofer Winter, ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections, in Jerusalem, August 25, 2026.

'Bibi can kiss my ass': Ofer Winter says his support for Netanyahu is not unconditional

Moti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh and founder of the Haredi Public Party, at the ‘Jerusalem Post’ studio, August 11, 2026

Israel's ultra-Orthodox community can no longer avoid the hard conversations - opinion


Ofer Winter rejects Goldknopf's demand for universal yeshiva student IDF draft exemption

Winter also called for Goldknopf to stop "deceiving the public," saying that "this system harms first and foremost the true Torah students."

Amcha Yisrael party chairman Ofer Winter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, September 2, 2026.

'Start with Lazimi': Haredi lawmaker suggests opposition MK should be shot for protesting

In response, MK Adi Ezuz (Yesh Atid) turned the conversation back onto Pindrus, noting that by his logic, UTJ Head Yitzhak Goldknopf, the leader of Pindrus's party, should also be shot in the legs.

MK Yitzhak Pindrus speaks during a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, June 3, 2026.

Discussion on Goldknopf’s proposal to lower VAT postponed by two weeks

The Tax Authority warns that the move will entail a revenue loss of NIS 8.5 billion per year, which would be funded by cuts or an increased deficit.

Yitzhak Goldknopf

Goldknopf proposes lowering the VAT to 17%

Just a few months before the elections, the housing minister who voted in favor of raising the VAT proposes lowering it to 17%. The Finance Ministry clarifies that the proposals will not be adopted.

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf

Netanyahu's political survival deal with the ultra-Orthodox comes at Israel's expense - opinion

The rotten deal Netanyahu is weaving in public with his non-Zionist partners allows the haredi sector to milk Israel's reserves dry without contributing anything.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu is seen walking past haredi lawmaker Yitzhak Goldknopf, at the Prime Minister’s Office in 2023.

Goldknopf protests 'exclusion' of haredi West Bank communities from budget in letter to Netanyahu

"How is it possible that the budgets, development, and benefits that reach the other communities never reach the ultra-Orthodox population centers in Judea and Samaria?" Goldknopf asked.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu is seen walking past haredi lawmaker Yitzhak Goldknopf, at the Prime Minister’s Office in 2023.

Deri says Shas supports draft evaders during prison visit, calls to add Torah study to Basic Law

The visit was made to the Neve Tzedek Military Prison, and Deri was accompanied by other lawmakers from his party, including MK Michael Malkieli and Haim Biton.

SHAS PARTY leader Arye Deri visits military prison expressing support for draft evaders, Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Bennett doubles down on mandatory haredi enlistment, blames current gov't for lack of IDF soldiers

"Draft evasion is costing the lives of our soldiers," the former prime minister said during an interview on Radio 103FM.

Naftali Bennett at the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit Tel Aviv overnight, causing heavy damage, March 1, 2026.

‘Maybe we’ll bomb them, maybe I’ll just dance’: Eretz Nehederet laughs at Trump’s Iran attack plan

As it seems possible that a US attack on Iran may lead to another Iranian attack on Israel, there’s very little any of us can do except stock up on groceries and try to laugh about it all.

OMER ETZION, acting as US President Donald Trump on Eretz Nehederet.

Ultra-Orthodox sages convene on haredi IDF draft bill, withhold official stance

The rabbis reportedly did not reach a decision on the matter; however, they allegedly decided internally to reject the sanctions imposed on draft evaders.

Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, head of the Gur hassidic dynasty,  seen after a meeting of the Council of Torah Sages regarding the haredi draft exemption bill in Jerusalem, January 7, 2026.