Rabbi Dov Lando’s Attack on Religious Soldiers Sparks Netanyahu Rebuttal

Rabbi Dov Lando, the spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Degel Hatorah faction, publicly denounced religious Zionist soldiers, calling their service “murder” and accusing them of “inciting murder” and “waging wars” for state honor rather than Israel’s protection. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly condemned the remarks, asserting that all IDF soldiers—religious, secular, and ultra-Orthodox—deserve gratitude and full public support.

Times of IsraelThe Jerusalem Post

Degel Hatorah has long relied on an informal understanding that yeshiva students would not be drafted, a practice it says it has coordinated with army authorities. Earlier this month, Rabbi Lando instructed haredi students to refuse cooperation with the IDF and to disregard any drafting orders, reinforcing the faction’s historical exemption stance.

The Jerusalem Post

Netanyahu’s office released a statement emphasizing that IDF personnel “leave their homes, their work and their families and risk their lives to protect the State of Israel… They deserve deep appreciation, gratitude, and full support from every segment of the public, and certainly from the world of Torah.” Degel Hatorah responded to the prime minister’s criticism by warning that the “words of the great Torah scholars are the holy of holies of the people of Israel” and cautioned against “attacking” the rabbi’s teachings.

The Jerusalem PostTimes of Israel

Rabbi Lando’s remarks targeted the religious Zionist community, questioning the moral legitimacy of soldiers who serve “with knitted kippas” and suggesting that state-sanctioned killing is “very much murder.” Degel Hatorah’s rebuttal framed the rabbi’s statements as sacred guidance, urging the public not to misinterpret or challenge his “burning embers.”

Times of Israel

• “If the country sends people, soldiers, in the name of the country's honor, and they kill people, is that also allowed?” — Rabbi Dov Lando, Degel Hatorah

The Jerusalem Post

• “I am speaking about those with knitted kippas that are required to go.” — Rabbi Dov Lando

Times of Israel

• “If the state sends people, soldiers, for the honor of the state, and they kill people, is that also permissible? It’s very much murder. So they incite murder. They wage wars not only for the sake of salvation, but for the honor of the state,” — Rabbi Dov Lando

Times of Israel

• “IDF soldiers, secular and Haredi, leave their homes, their work and their families, and risk their lives in order to protect the State of Israel, its citizens and all of the nation of Israel,” — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Times of Israel