Who is Dov Lando, the Israeli rabbi criticising Zionism? | Israel Election 2026 Information

One of Israel’s high ultra-Orthodox rabbis, Dov Lando, has develop into the centre of controversy in Israel after feedback emerged during which he denigrated Zionism.

In a just lately launched video recording, the 96-year-old rabbi is heard saying the ideology of Zionism triggered the Jewish folks to endure “disasters”, and that Jewish Israelis might have been higher off and not using a state.

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The remarks have drawn rebukes from Israeli politicians weeks earlier than landmark legislative elections, during which the function of the nation’s rising ultra-Orthodox group – significantly over military service – is a serious situation. The political alignment of ultra-Orthodox events may additionally show essential to the formation of the subsequent authorities.

So, who’s Lando and why are his feedback important?

Who is Dov Lando?

Dov Lando is a 96-year-old rabbi considered the chief of Israel’s Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox group. Born in Poland and raised within the Lithuanian-style ultra-Orthodox custom, Lando heads a yeshiva – a standard Jewish academy – within the Israeli metropolis of Bnei Brak.

He is a member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, a council of senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis that supply spiritual steerage to the group, in addition to the religious chief of Israel’s Degel HaTorah celebration. That celebration is a part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, which is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.

What has Lando mentioned about Zionism?

Earlier this week, Israeli media launched a video of Lando making year-old feedback that harshly criticise Zionism, army service and secular Israelis.

Lando, who has made equally important remarks earlier than, is heard within the video saying that Zionism “triggered the Arabs to hate us” and introduced bodily in addition to religious “disasters” on the Jewish folks.

“It is feasible to dwell properly with the Arabs and not using a state,” Lando mentioned, including that cross-border or Palestinian rule would have been “the very best state of affairs” for Jews.

Lando went on to castigate troopers who adhere to Religious Zionism – a strand of Orthodox Judaism that upholds Zionism – saying “they’re killed as a result of their rabbis train them a distorted Torah.” Many army operations, he mentioned, are carried out “not for saving lives, however for the honour of the state”.

The veteran rabbi additionally had harsh phrases for secular Israelis, who he mentioned have “no connection to Judaism in any respect”. He described them as having constructed “a state of apostasy and heresy”.

What has been the response in Israel?

Lando’s remarks have drawn fierce criticism from quite a few Israeli politicians, together with all main figures which have joined an opposition alliance difficult Netanyahu.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar celebration who’s seen because the opposition bloc’s most probably candidate for prime minister, mentioned Lando’s “outrageous statements” had been “the embodiment of anti-Zionism”.

Yair Lapid, the top of Israel’s opposition within the Knesset, known as the feedback “a shame to each Jew”.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who leads the Together alliance co-founded with Lapid, mentioned Lando’s remarks are “anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist” and in opposition to the Israeli army.

Netanyahu has not commented on Lando’s newest reported remarks, however he publicly condemned earlier statements by the rabbi in July, when Lando accused the Religious Zionism motion of “incitement to homicide” for its help for drafting spiritual seminary college students into the army.

Could the controversy influence Israel’s upcoming elections?

Potentially.

Members of the anti-Netanyahu opposition bloc have known as for the UTJ, which Lando’s celebration is a part of, to be forged out of any future authorities, and criticised Netanyahu for staying aligned with the group.

Yair Golan, head of the Democrats celebration, mentioned Netanyahu is “silent as a result of with out Rabbi Lando and his emissaries, he has no authorities”.

Netanyahu’s “political survival is extra vital to him than Zionism, greater than equality in service, and greater than the blood of our troopers”, Golan mentioned.

But breaking with the UTJ would come at an enormous political price to Netanyahu, whose coalition is already in for a troublesome election battle on October 27 and is polling properly under the 61-seat threshold wanted for a majority.

UTJ is projected to win 8 seats in parliament, in keeping with an October 5 ballot by Israel’s Channel 12.

“If Netanyahu assaults Lando forcefully, he pays a worth with the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) he must type a authorities,” mentioned Ehab Jabareen, a researcher on Israeli affairs. “If he stays silent, he fingers his rivals materials to inform right-wing voters that the person who speaks of Zionism and safety will depend on a non secular management that doubts Zionism itself.”