World
Ultra‑Orthodox Rabbi Dov Lando Criticizes Zionism, Sparking Political Backlash
A 96‑year‑old Israeli rabbi, Dov Lando, has sparked controversy after a video surfaced in which he denounced Zionism as disastrous for the Jewish people. Lando, who heads a yeshiva in Bnei Brak and is a senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, also serves as the spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah party. Degel HaTorah is part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, which sits in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
In the video, Lando said that Zionism caused Arabs to hate Jews and brought both physical and spiritual disasters. He added that Jews might have lived better without a state, and that international or Palestinian rule would have been preferable. He criticized soldiers who follow Religious Zionism, claiming they are killed because their rabbis teach a distorted Torah, and described secular Israelis as having “no connection to Judaism at all” and as having built a state of apostasy and heresy.
Israeli politicians across the spectrum condemned the remarks. Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party called the statements “the embodiment of anti‑Zionism.” Yair Lapid, the opposition leader in the Knesset, called the comments “a disgrace to every Jew.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described them as “anti‑Semitic, anti‑Zionist” and against the Israeli military. Netanyahu has not commented on the latest remarks but had previously condemned Lando’s July statements that accused the Religious Zionism movement of “incitement to murder” for supporting the drafting of religious seminary students.
The controversy may affect the upcoming elections on October 27. Opposition leaders have called for UTJ to be excluded from any future government and have criticized Netanyahu for remaining aligned with the group. Yair Golan of the Democrats party said Netanyahu’s silence could be interpreted as prioritizing political survival over Zionism and the safety of soldiers. Analysts note that breaking ties with UTJ would cost Netanyahu a significant portion of his coalition, as UTJ is projected to win eight seats in the Knesset according to an October 5 poll by Channel 12. The debate highlights the delicate balance Netanyahu must maintain between his coalition partners and the broader political landscape.