Top Haredi rabbi says religious soldiers committing murder; PM issues rare criticism

Rabbi Dov Lando, a prominent Haredi spiritual leader, stated on Sunday that religious soldiers serving in the IDF are committing "murder," specifically criticizing those from the religious Zionist community. This comment, made during a meeting in Bnei Brak, is the latest in ongoing tensions regarding military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a rare condemnation, asserting that "IDF soldiers, secular and Haredi... deserve deep appreciation, gratitude, and full support." However, Lando's political faction, Degel HaTorah, defended his remarks as "holy." The High Court of Justice recently ruled against blanket Haredi draft exemptions, leading to legislative efforts to enshrine Torah study as a foundational value and grant immunity to draft evaders, though the court has frozen the implementation of the latter law.