United Torah Judaism

United Torah Judaism (Hebrew translation, Yahadut HaTorah Hameukhedet) is an alliance of two ultra-Orthodox political parties, Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah, and represents the growing ultra-Orthodox community. It opposes the separation of religion and state, drafting young ultra-Orthodox men for military service and any change in the nation’s laws that prohibit most businesses from opening on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. The party has been successful in securing financial aid for the ultra-Orthodox community, including government stipends for large families.

United Torah Judaism is willing to join coalition governments which engage in peace negotiations with the Palestinians, primarily because the social and religious policies it pursues are a greater priority to the party and its constituency.

The party advocates for more inclusion of Jewish law within the state, saying that it aspires to “resolve, in the spirit of the Torah [Jewish law] and the commandments, all issues that arise in Jewish life.” The party is also opposed to civil marriage.

Between 1992 and 2008, United Torah Judaism members served in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeeth Knessets.

Sources: The Israel Project.

The Knesset.