United Torah Judaism party withdraws support for Benjamin Netanyahu

On November 5, 2026, the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, a long-time ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, officially declined to nominate him for prime minister during consultations with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. This decision represents a significant shift in the Israeli political landscape, complicating efforts to form a new government following recent electoral proceedings.

The party, which holds seven seats in the Israeli parliament, acted under the explicit instruction of its spiritual leaders. The directive applied to both of its components: the Degel HaTorah faction, representing Lithuanian-tradition ultra-Orthodox Jews with four seats, and the Agudat Yisrael faction, representing Hasidic ultra-Orthodox Jews with three seats. By refusing to endorse any candidate, the UTJ has effectively denied Netanyahu the support he previously relied on, thereby strengthening the position of the opposition leader, Gadi Eizenkot.

President Isaac Herzog is currently conducting a series of meetings with representatives of all political factions to determine who will be tasked with forming the next government. The withdrawal of support from the UTJ, a party that had backed Netanyahu in the 2022 elections and has been a fixture in previous governing coalitions, marks a notable change in alliance dynamics. The ongoing consultations will determine the next steps in the government formation process.