Dov Lando, a senior ultra-Orthodox rabbi in Israel, has sparked controversy by criticizing Zionism, stating that it has caused suffering for the Jewish people. In a recently released video, the 96-year-old rabbi claimed that Jewish Israelis might have been better off without a state and that Zionism has led to disasters for the Jewish community. His remarks have drawn criticism from various Israeli politicians ahead of upcoming legislative elections, where the influence of the ultra-Orthodox community is a significant issue.
Lando is recognized as a leader of Israel’s Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community and heads a yeshiva in Bnei Brak. He is a member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, a council of senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis, and serves as the spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah party, which is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
In the video, Lando stated that Zionism has caused animosity from Arabs towards Jews and has brought both physical and spiritual disasters. He suggested that it is possible for Jews to live well with Arabs without a state and that international or Palestinian governance would have been preferable.
Lando criticized soldiers who follow Religious Zionism, claiming they are misled by their rabbis and that military actions are often for the state's honor rather than saving lives. He also expressed disdain for secular Israelis, stating they have no connection to Judaism and have created a state of apostasy.
His comments have been met with backlash from Israeli politicians, including Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Lapid, who labeled his statements as disgraceful and anti-Zionist. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also condemned Lando's remarks as anti-Semitic.
Netanyahu has not publicly responded to Lando's latest comments but had previously condemned the rabbi's earlier statements regarding the Religious Zionism movement. Opposition members have called for the United Torah Judaism party, which includes Lando's faction, to be excluded from future government formations. Political analysts suggest that Netanyahu's alignment with the UTJ could impact his coalition's stability ahead of the elections on October 27, where the party is projected to secure 8 seats in parliament.