United Torah Judaism
יַהֲדוּת הַתּוֹרָה הַמְאוּחֶדֶת |
|
---|---|
Leader |
Yaakov Litzman Moshe Gafni |
Founded | 1992 |
Headquarters | Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, Israel |
Ideology |
Ashkenazi Haredim interests Halacha Religious conservatism |
Religion | Haredi Judaism |
International affiliation | World Agudath Israel |
Colours | Black and white |
Knesset |
6 / 120
|
Most MKs | 7 (2013) |
Fewest MKs | 4 (1992, 1996) |
Election symbol | |
ג | |
United Torah Judaism (Hebrew: יַהֲדוּת הַתּוֹרָה הַמְאוּחֶדֶת, Transliterated: Yahadut HaTora HaMeuhedet; UTJ) is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, two small Israeli Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) political parties in the Knesset. It was first formed in 1992.
The two parties have not always agreed with each other about policy matters. However, over the years, they have cooperated and united as a voting bloc in order to win the maximum number of seats in the Knesset, since many extra votes can be wasted if election thresholds are not attained under Israel's proportional representation parliamentary system.
When UTJ joined Ariel Sharon's coalition in 2004, it split into its two constituent factions of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel. Before the 2006 election, Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel agreed to revive their alliance under the banner of United Torah Judaism to not waste votes and achieve maximum representation in the 17th Knesset.
The party won 6 seats in the 20th Knesset elections in 2015, which was down from 7 seats in the 19th Knesset elections in 2013.