Ultra-Orthodox rabbi’s anti-Zionist remarks ignite election row in Israel

Rabbi Dov Lando, the 96-year-old spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah party, made the remarks during a closed meeting at his home in Bnei Brak. Footage broadcast by Channel 12 on Monday showed him saying that soldiers adhering to Religious Zionism were killed “because their rabbis teach them a distorted Torah” and that many military operations are carried out “not for saving lives, but for the honour of the state”. He also postulated that Jews may have been better off without a state.

Lando’s comments were first published in February 2025, but their reemergence comes at a sensitive moment. The issue of ultra-Orthodox military service has become one of the sharpest fault lines in the election campaign. In 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that there was no legal basis for blanket exemptions for ultra-Orthodox seminary students, and the government has since failed to pass legislation restoring the exemptions. The dispute has led to large protests on both sides.

Lando leads Degel HaTorah, one of two factions in the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, which won seven seats in the 2022 election. UTJ ministers resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government last year, though the bloc has continued to intermittently support the coalition. Netanyahu has been wary of removing the military exemption for fear of losing the parties’ support.

“The question is not what he said, but why this discourse has been placed at the heart of the Israeli debate three weeks before the election,” Ehab Jabareen, a researcher on Israeli affairs, told Al Jazeera.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The remarks touch on a fundamental debate about Zionism and the relationship between religious authority and the state, which cuts to the heart of Israeli identity.
The ultra-Orthodox draft exemption is a volatile issue that has already sparked street protests and threatens coalition stability.
The election outcome could determine whether legislation restoring exemptions passes or whether the Supreme Court ruling is enforced, reshaping military service obligations.

Background

The ultra-Orthodox community has historically received exemptions from mandatory military service to pursue Torah study. This arrangement has been a source of tension with secular and religious Zionist Israelis who bear the burden of conscription. The Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling that the exemptions lacked legal basis created a political crisis. Successive governments, including Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition that included UTJ, have been unable to pass new legislation acceptable to all parties. The issue has become a central campaign topic ahead of the October 27 election.

Key Perspectives

Rabbi Dov Lando and anti-Zionist ultra-Orthodox voices: They view the state of Israel as a secular entity not ordained by God, and believe Torah study takes precedence over military service. Lando’s comments reflect a longstanding theological opposition to religious Zionism.

Religious Zionists and secular Israelis: They see Lando’s statements as delegitimising soldiers’ sacrifice and undermining the state’s right to exist. Many demand equal conscription laws and an end to blanket exemptions.

Critics and political analysts: Some argue the timing of the remarks’ reemergence is being weaponised for political gain. As researcher Ehab Jabareen noted, the debate over Lando’s words may be less about theology than about shaping election narratives and putting pressure on Netanyahu’s coalition allies.

What to Watch

The reaction of UTJ’s leadership: whether they distance themselves from Lando or double down on anti-draft positions.
Polling in the final three weeks: whether the controversy sways moderate or secular voters.
Post-election coalition negotiations: potential legislation on ultra-Orthodox military service will determine if the next government can avoid a repeat of the crisis.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources