Ultra-Orthodox rabbi's anti-Zionist remarks reignite Israel election row over conscription

A senior ultra-Orthodox rabbi's anti-Zionist remarks have returned to the centre of Israel's election campaign, intensifying debate over military service exemptions and the role of ultra-Orthodox parties in politics. The comments by Rabbi Dov Lando, the 96-year-old spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, were broadcast in footage shown on Monday and have triggered a fresh political storm three weeks before the October 27 parliamentary election. They were made during a closed meeting at his home in Bnei Brak, a city closely associated with Israel's ultra-Orthodox community.

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In the footage, Lando said Jews may have been better off without a state and argued that soldiers linked to Religious Zionism who are killed in Israel's wars die because of what their rabbis taught them. He also said that many military operations are carried out "not for saving lives, but for the honour of the state." The remarks were made in response to a question about admiration among some ultra-Orthodox Jewish men for religious Zionists who combine Torah study with military service. According to the report, the comments were not new and were first published in February 2025, but their reappearance has given them renewed political force during the campaign.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of a long-running dispute over conscription. Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that there was no legal basis for blanket exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox seminary students. Since then, the government has not been able to pass legislation restoring those exemptions.

The issue has led to large protests on both sides of the divide, underlining how deeply the question of military service cuts across Israeli society and party politics. The row matters now because it touches one of the most sensitive fault lines in the election campaign. Ultra-Orthodox military exemptions have become a central issue as parties position themselves ahead of the vote, and the debate has sharpened pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition politics.

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The remarks also highlight the tension between religious identity, state institutions and military service in a country where conscription remains a defining civic obligation for many citizens. With the election approaching, the issue is being used by opponents and supporters alike to frame broader arguments about national duty and political legitimacy. Degel HaTorah is one of the two factions in the United Torah Judaism alliance, which won seven seats in the 2022 election.

The bloc had been part of Netanyahu's government before its ministers resigned last year, although it continued to intermittently support the coalition. That history has made the alliance an important player in the current debate, because its stance on conscription can affect the balance of support around the government and the wider campaign. Netanyahu has been cautious about removing the military exemption, despite opposition from many in Israel, because of the political cost of alienating ultra-Orthodox partners.

The remarks also reflect a broader argument that has repeatedly surfaced in Israel over the relationship between religious study and military service. Ultra-Orthodox men have traditionally refused the draft, while religious Zionists generally combine Torah study with army service, creating a visible divide within religious Jewish politics. Lando's comments, by criticising that model, have sharpened the contrast between the two communities and brought the issue back into public view at a sensitive moment.

The fact that the comments were made in a private meeting but later broadcast has added to their impact. For now, it remains unclear whether the renewed controversy will alter party strategy or voter behaviour before the October 27 election. What is clear is that the conscription dispute is still unresolved, and the government has not found a legislative solution that satisfies both legal and political pressures.