Rabbi Dov Lando’s remarks have raised tensions in Israel regarding Zionism, military conscription, and the ultra-Orthodox community's political alliances. In footage aired by Channel 12 on October 7, 2026, the 96-year-old Rabbi Lando, a prominent figure in the Degel HaTorah party, suggested that Jews might have been better off without a state. He stated that soldiers who adhere to 'Religious Zionism' and die in conflicts do so due to teachings from their rabbis, claiming that military actions are often conducted 'not for saving lives, but for the honour of the state.' These comments were made during a private meeting in Bnei Brak and have ignited political debate just weeks before the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Lando's statements are not new, as they were initially reported in February 2025, but their resurfacing coincides with an election campaign where ultra-Orthodox military service has become a contentious issue. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that there was no legal justification for exempting ultra-Orthodox seminary students from military service, leading to protests from both supporters and opponents of the exemptions.
Ehab Jabareen, a researcher on Israeli affairs, noted that the timing of Lando's remarks raises questions about their relevance in the current political discourse. Lando's party, part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, won seven seats in the last election in 2022 and had previously been part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Lando has expressed distrust in Netanyahu, calling for the parliament to be dissolved in May. In the recent footage, he claimed, 'It is possible to live well with the Arabs without a state,' suggesting that international or Palestinian governance would have been preferable. He criticized Zionism for inciting hatred from Arabs and described secular Israelis as having established a 'state of apostasy and heresy.'
Ibrahim Khatib, a conflict studies scholar, remarked that Lando's comments challenge the traditional narrative that Jewish communities in Arab countries were in danger, which the Zionist movement purported to address. Opposition leaders quickly condemned Lando’s remarks, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett labeling them as 'anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist, and anti-Israeli military.'
Netanyahu has not yet commented on Lando’s remarks, which some view as a politically sensitive issue given his reliance on ultra-Orthodox support. Jabareen suggests that Netanyahu's silence may be a strategic decision to avoid alienating the Haredim, who are crucial for his coalition. The debate surrounding the military draft of the ultra-Orthodox has evolved into a broader discussion about the social contract in Israel, questioning who bears the burden of military service.
The implications of Lando’s comments may reinforce existing divisions rather than shift voter preferences, particularly among right-wing voters who serve in the military and are frustrated with Netanyahu's handling of ultra-Orthodox demands. Jabareen concluded that the Israeli right has unified two contrasting views of the Jewish state, with one faction supporting state sovereignty while another questions the very foundation of the state itself.