Full Breakdown
Rabbi Dov Lando’s Anti-Zionist Remarks Ignite Political Debate Ahead of Israeli Election
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Core Event
A video recorded about a year and a half ago and released this week shows Rabbi Dov Lando, the 96-year-old spiritual head of the Degel HaTorah faction of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, denouncing Zionism, the State of Israel, Religious-Zionist soldiers and secular Israelis.
Background & Context
Degel HaTorah leads Israel’s Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community and, through UTJ, forms a key component of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition. Ultra-Orthodox parties traditionally oppose compulsory military service for yeshiva students, a policy that has become a focal point of the upcoming legislative elections. The coalition’s stability depends on maintaining the support of the Haredi bloc, of which UTJ holds several seats.
Data & Statistics
- An October 5 poll by Israel’s Channel 12 projected UTJ to win 8 seats in the Knesset.
- The next national election is scheduled for October 27; a governing majority requires 61 seats.
Official Statements & Responses
Opposition leaders condemned Lando’s remarks as hostile to Zionism and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Gadi Eiskot, head of the centrist Yashar party, labeled the statements “the embodiment of anti-Zionism.” Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition in the Knesset, called the comments “a disgrace to every Jew.” Former prime minister Naftali Bennett described them as “antisemitic, anti-Zionist, against the IDF.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has not issued a comment on the newly released video, though he publicly rebuked Lando’s earlier July remarks that accused Religious-Zionist soldiers of “incitement to murder.”
Criticism & Opposition
The anti-Netanyahu opposition bloc has called for UTJ to be excluded from any future coalition, arguing that Lando’s ideology is incompatible with a government that supports the IDF and the Zionist project. Critics contend that the rabbi’s statements undermine the legitimacy of the state and could inflame tensions within Israeli society, especially amid debates over Haredi conscription.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is possible to live well with the Arabs without a state,” — Dov Lando
- “If Netanyahu attacks Lando forcefully, he pays a price with the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) he needs to form a government,” — Ehab Jabareen, a researcher on Israeli affairs
- “They’re killed because their rabbis teach them a distorted Torah,” — Dov Lando
- “Rabbi Lando’s statements are antisemitic, anti-Zionist, against the IDF,” — Naftali Bennett, former prime minister
What’s Next
With the election set for October 27, parties are weighing whether to retain UTJ’s eight projected seats in any post-election coalition. Analysts note that any move to marginalize the ultra-Orthodox bloc could jeopardize Netanyahu’s ability to assemble a majority, while opposition parties may use Lando’s comments to justify demanding UTJ’s exclusion. The outcome will shape the balance between religious-political influence and the government’s stance on military service and Zionist policy.