A new analysis of Rabbi Landau's remarks clarifies that he did not say soldiers murder Arabs for national honor. Instead, he argued that according to the Haredi view, sending soldiers to war for reasons other than a mitzvah war or rescue constitutes murder. The clarification states that he did not accuse soldiers of killing Arabs.
On Tuesday evening, a clarification of Rabbi Landau's remarks was published, stating that he did not accuse soldiers of murdering Arabs for national honor. The clarification addresses the interpretation of his words from Sunday, when his statements were reported as calling wars for national honor 'real murder' and accusing religious Zionists of forcing army service.
The initial reports on Sunday July 19, by Amit Segal and Eli Hirsman of N12, quoted Rabbi Landau as saying that sending soldiers to war for national honor is 'real murder' and that the religious Zionists who enforce army service are 'wicked.' These reports were widely interpreted as accusing soldiers of murdering Arabs, leading to the need for a clarification.
The clarification states that Rabbi Landau's argument was that according to the Haredi perspective, sending soldiers to war for reasons other than a mitzvah war or rescue constitutes murder, and that he did not intend to accuse soldiers of killing Arabs. The remarks are part of a broader debate over Haredi conscription and military service, as The Zioneer has reported in the context of the ongoing conscription law debate.
5 developments
- StrongRabbi Landau reiterates opposition to Haredi draft; Netanyahu calls for public backing of IDF troops
- StrongAvi Grinzeig explains Rabbi Landau's video, reportedly seen as criticism of religious-nationalist soldiers
- StrongLapid says Haredi leaders indifferent to soldiers' deaths; Fleisher calls it antisemitic
- DevelopingRabbi Landau says his remarks were taken out of context, doubling down on distortion claim
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