Who is Dov Lando, the Israeli rabbi criticising Zionism?
Summary
Dov Lando, a 96-year-old ultra-Orthodox Israeli rabbi, criticized Zionism in a recent video, saying it caused harm to Jewish people and that Jews might have been better off without a state. His comments have sparked strong reactions from Israeli politicians just weeks before important national elections.Key Facts
- Dov Lando is a leading figure in Israel’s Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community and heads a yeshiva in Bnei Brak.
- He is part of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, a council of senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis, and spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah party.
- Lando said Zionism caused Arabs to hate Jews and brought disasters, both physical and spiritual, to Jewish people.
- He suggested Jews could live well under international or Palestinian rule instead of having an Israeli state.
- Lando criticized Religious Zionism and soldiers who follow it, claiming their rabbis teach a “distorted Torah.”
- He also criticized secular Israelis, calling the state they built one of “apostasy and heresy.”
- Israeli politicians from multiple parties condemned Lando’s remarks as anti-Zionist and divisive ahead of upcoming elections.
- The controversy could affect political alliances, especially since Lando’s party is part of the current government coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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