Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Dov Lando, a prominent spiritual leader, has ignited a political firestorm just weeks before Israel's October 27 parliamentary election with his anti-Zionist remarks. Footage broadcast on Monday showed the 96-year-old Rabbi, who leads the Degel HaTorah party, questioning whether Jews might have been better off without their own state and suggesting that soldiers who adhere to "Religious Zionism" die due to flawed teachings.

Lando's comments, made at a private gathering in Bnei Brak, come at a critical juncture in Israeli politics. The issue of military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, who have historically received exemptions to pursue religious studies, has become a deeply divisive topic. This is particularly relevant following a 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling that found no legal basis for these exemptions, a decision the government has struggled to legislate around.

During the gathering, Rabbi Lando reportedly stated that soldiers died because "their rabbis teach them a distorted Torah." He further elaborated that many military operations are conducted "not for saving lives, but for the honour of the state." These statements were made in response to a question about the growing admiration among some ultra-Orthodox men for religious Zionists who integrate military service with their religious studies.

The emergence of these remarks, though first published in February 2025, is significant now as the election campaign intensifies. The ultra-Orthodox community, particularly parties like Degel HaTorah and its ally Agudath Yisrael, forming the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, are key political players. The UTJ won seven seats in the 2022 election and has been a fluctuating, yet often crucial, supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition governments.

Ehab Jabareen, a researcher specializing in Israeli affairs, commented that the focus should be on "why this discourse has been placed at the heart of the Israeli debate three weeks before the election." This highlights the timing of Lando's comments and their potential impact on the electoral landscape, particularly concerning the deep divisions over national identity, religious observance, and military duty.

Historically, the exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students has been a sensitive issue, creating friction between secular Israelis and the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. The Supreme Court's 2024 decision challenged this long-standing arrangement, leading to widespread protests from various segments of Israeli society, both for and against maintaining the exemptions.

Netanyahu has been cautious regarding the conscription issue. While facing significant public opposition to the exemptions, he has also been wary of alienating his ultra-Orthodox allies. The UTJ and similar parties have often been integral to forming and maintaining his governments, and their continued support is vital for his political maneuvering.

Rabbi Lando's comments further complicate this delicate balance. They not only challenge the legitimacy of the Israeli state and its military but also expose a schism within the ultra-Orthodox world itself, between those who adhere to a more strictly anti-Zionist stance and those who are increasingly engaging with national service, often influenced by religious Zionist ideology. The ongoing debate raises fundamental questions about the future role of the ultra-Orthodox community within Israeli society and its military obligations.