Ultra-Orthodox rabbi’s anti-Zionist remarks stir Israel election row | Israel Election 2026 News
Controversy Erupts Over Rabbi’s Comments on Israeli Statehood
Comments made by Rabbi Dov Lando, a senior ultra-Orthodox leader in Israel, have ignited significant controversy ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections set for October 27. Lando, the spiritual head of the Degel HaTorah party, suggested that Jews might have been better off without a state, asserting that soldiers from the Religious Zionism movement die in conflict due to “distorted” teachings from their rabbis.
The remarks were captured in footage aired by Channel 12 on Monday, leading to a political storm just weeks before the election. During a private meeting at his home in Bnei Brak, Lando stated, “They are killed because their rabbis teach them a distorted Torah” and claimed that many military operations prioritize the “honor of the state” over saving lives.
Although these comments first surfaced in February 2025, their resurgence coincides with heightened tensions surrounding the issue of ultra-Orthodox military service, a contentious topic in Israeli politics. In 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox seminary students lack legal grounds for military service exemptions, prompting large-scale protests from both supporters and opponents of the draft.
Ehab Jabareen, an Israeli affairs researcher, noted that the current political discourse seems to be amplifying Lando’s comments at a crucial time in the electoral cycle.
Lando’s Degel HaTorah party is part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, which secured seven seats in the previous Knesset elections. Although UTJ ministers resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government last year, they have continued to offer sporadic support. Netanyahu has been cautious about the military exemption issue, fearing that removing it could lead to a collapse of support from ultra-Orthodox factions.
Furthermore, Lando has emerged as a significant voice within Israel’s Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community, which represents approximately one-third of the country’s 1.45 million ultra-Orthodox Jews. Earlier this year, Lando expressed a lack of trust in Netanyahu and called for new parliamentary elections.
In the footage, Lando further elaborated on his views, stating, “It is possible to live well with the Arabs without a state,” and suggested that international or Palestinian governance would have been preferable. He criticized Zionism for fostering animosity towards Jews and characterized secular Israelis as having created “a state of apostasy and heresy.”
Scholars have noted that Lando’s statements reflect a non-Zionist stance historically prevalent in ultra-Orthodox Judaism, raising questions about the relationship between Judaism and Zionism. Ibrahim Khatib, a conflict studies expert, emphasized the implications of such remarks within the Jewish community at a time when Israeli leaders typically aim to unify these identities.
Opposition leaders quickly responded to Lando’s comments, using them as ammunition against Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned Lando’s remarks as “anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist, and anti-military,” while criticizing Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for their support of Lando.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, called for all Zionist parties to reject future collaboration with Lando’s faction. Netanyahu, who previously dismissed Lando’s claims linking the Religious Zionism movement to violence, has remained silent on this latest controversy, which analysts interpret as a strategic move to avoid alienating ultra-Orthodox supporters.
The debate over ultra-Orthodox military service has transformed from a religious and state discourse into a broader question of social responsibility in the Israeli public sphere. Jabareen pointed out that this issue is critical for Netanyahu, who faces a dilemma between appeasing religious leaders and addressing the grievances of secular voters.
While the impact of Lando’s statements on voter sentiment remains uncertain, some analysts believe they may deepen existing divisions among right-wing constituencies. Ultimately, as Netanyahu weighs his political alliances, the friction within the right-leaning factions of Israeli politics underscores a complex and evolving landscape in the lead-up to the elections.
