Meir Porush Navigates Political Landscape Amidst Legal Scrutiny and Ultra-Orthodox Issues

Member of Knesset Meir Porush has been placed fourth on the Yahadut HaTorah list for the 26th Knesset. Notably, he is running under the banner of "Chomat Torat Yisrael," a new party he co-founded, rather than directly under Agudat Yisrael. Porush previously served as Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage from January 2023 to July 2025, resigning amid a controversy surrounding draft evasion legislation before returning to the Knesset.

Porush has a long political career, including 13 years on the Jerusalem City Council and as Deputy Mayor. He was first elected to the Knesset in 1996 and has held positions such as Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Deputy Minister of Education. His career has not been without scrutiny; in 2000, police recommended indicting him on charges related to privacy law violations and fraud, though prosecutors later decided not to pursue the case due to insufficient evidence and the passage of time. He has also faced criticism regarding political appointments and conflicts of interest during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and later as Deputy Minister of Education.

In his role as Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, Porush was responsible for Mount Meron and implementing recommendations from the Meron disaster inquiry. He resigned from the government in July 2025 due to disagreements over draft evasion legislation but returned to the Knesset. He has been a vocal critic of the Attorney General and the judiciary, particularly concerning the conscription of yeshiva students, and has made controversial statements regarding the legal system and the draft.

Porush's political maneuvering includes the formation of "Chomat Torat Yisrael" for the upcoming elections, marking the first time since 1992 that a third party has run under the Yahadut HaTorah umbrella alongside Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah. He has stated that he will not return to the government without a resolution on the status of yeshiva students, even if he stands alone in the Knesset. His public statements have often been provocative, including remarks about the Attorney General and the judiciary, and he has been involved in controversies such as his past interactions with Eliezer Berland.