Women Can’t be Part of Combat Units in Israel due to Physiological Differences

This response came after women requested to be considered for tryouts for special forces units and two analytical studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of female soldiers in particular units such as heavy infantry. The IDF cited these studies to explain that women face a greater risk of injury when required to perform tasks that involve lifting heavy weights like backpacks and large firearms. However, women could play a more useful role in operational situations with infantry brigades, such as in mortar team units, which do not have such significant physical requirements.

A panel appointed by Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi suggested that women could apply for roles in the Air Force's rescue unit or for a bomb disposal role at Yahalom, a special ops unit in the Combat Engineering Corps. The IDF has already allowed 12 female soldiers to meet the admission standards for these roles. Additionally, a platoon of women could assist ground forces if enough women apply to go ahead with it. The panel suggested waiting with further positions until after the pilot program. However, the panel recommended that women should not be allowed to join elite units due to the very low number of women who meet the physical conditions required for these roles.

Despite these restrictions, the IDF said that around 90 per cent of its military positions were open to female applicants, and approximately 20 per cent of combat units in the IDF were currently filled by women. It stated that it is committed to encouraging women to apply for the military. Recently, the IDF announced that it planned to open the door for female draftees to join its special air force rescue Unit 669, allowing women to try out for combat roles in the air force's ultra-elite search-and-rescue unit. Currently, women in the unit are allowed to serve as paramedics or fill other non-combat roles.