Comments by Rabbi Dov Lando, spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah party and one of Israel’s most prominent ultra-Orthodox figures, have sparked significant political debate. In footage broadcast by Channel 12 earlier this week, Lando, who is 96 years old, stated that Jews could have lived better without establishing a state and suggested that soldiers who died in Israel’s military operations were killed due to teachings from their rabbis. He also contended that many military campaigns were conducted for national prestige rather than defensive purposes. The remarks were originally made at a private gathering at his residence in Bnei Brak and were initially published in February 2025, though their rebroadcast this week has reignited the controversy.
The timing of the footage’s resurfacing comes as Israel approaches parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27, with the contentious issue of military service for ultra-Orthodox seminary students dominating campaign discourse. A 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling determined that ultra-Orthodox seminary students had no legal basis for military draft exemptions, which the government has failed to restore through legislation. This has resulted in substantial protests across the political spectrum. Lando’s party is part of the United Torah Judaism alliance, which secured seven seats in the 2022 election and previously held positions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition before its ministers departed last year.
Opposition leaders have quickly capitalized on Lando’s statements as campaign ammunition. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett characterized the remarks as “anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist and anti-[Israeli military]” and directed criticism toward Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for their association with Lando’s faction. Netanyahu, who had publicly rejected comparable statements from Lando in July, has not yet responded to the current controversy. Political analysts suggest Netanyahu’s silence reflects strategic calculation, as strong condemnation of Lando could jeopardize his coalition prospects with ultra-Orthodox parties, while remaining silent provides ammunition for political opponents.
Lando’s comments reflect historical non-Zionist positions within ultra-Orthodox Judaism, though his explicit reference to the possibility of living under non-Zionist or international governance represents a particularly controversial stance in contemporary Israeli discourse. Scholars note that his remarks challenge official Israeli narratives linking Judaism and Zionism and question foundational justifications for the state’s establishment. The military draft dispute has evolved beyond traditional religious and secular divisions to encompass broader questions about Israeli society’s social contract, including which populations bear military responsibilities and receive corresponding resources and political influence.
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