By: Chloe Beylus
Israel stands out as one of the few countries in the world that mandates military service for women. Long before the state’s official establishment, women played key roles in Israel’s defense—from biblical figures like Yael and Deborah to members of pre-state military organizations like Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi. Today, women in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are not just serving; they are breaking barriers, taking on combat roles, and rising to leadership positions. However, their journey has been marked by both progress and resistance.
During the 1948 War of Independence, Israel faced existential threats from neighboring countries, requiring the full mobilization of its population. The newly formed IDF enlisted all available personnel, regardless of gender—a decision driven by necessity and the state’s founding ethos of gender equality. David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, championed the concept of a “people’s army,” reinforcing the idea that national defense was a shared responsibility.
Despite their contributions, concerns over the risk of female soldiers being captured led to their removal from combat roles. The Women’s Corps was established as a parallel administrative system within the IDF. For decades, women were primarily assigned to support roles in intelligence, communications, and administration.
A major shift occurred in 1995 with the landmark case Alice Miller v. Minister of Defense. Alice Miller, an aeronautical engineer and licensed civilian pilot, petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court after being denied the opportunity to apply for the IDF’s Air Force pilot training program solely because of her gender. The court ruled in her favor, finding that gender-based exclusion from military roles violated Israel’s principles of equality. Although Miller did not ultimately qualify for the program, her case set a legal precedent that paved the way for expanded roles for women in the IDF.
In 2000, the Defense Service Law was amended, granting women the right to serve in any military position unless the role’s inherent nature required otherwise. To integrate women into regular military units, the Women’s Corps was dismantled, and the Chief of Staff’s Advisor on Women’s Affairs (later renamed Chief of Staff’s Advisor on Gender Affairs in 2016) was established to promote equal opportunities for female soldiers.
The IDF took a major step toward female combat integration in 2004 with the formation of its first mixed-gender infantry unit, the Caracal Battalion, which now patrols Israel’s southern border with Egypt and is 60% female. Its success led to the creation of additional mixed-gender combat units, such as the Lions of the Jordan and Bardelas battalions, proving that women could effectively serve in combat roles.
Women have also made strides in leadership. In 2011, Orna Barbivai became the first woman to attain the rank of Major-General when she was appointed commander of the IDF’s Manpower Directorate. Her promotion shattered a glass ceiling, proving that female soldiers could rise to the highest levels of command.
Despite these advancements, resistance to women in combat remains. Critics argue that physiological differences between men and women compromise the effectiveness of mixed-gender units, particularly in physically demanding tasks such as carrying heavy equipment and enduring extended marches. Some claim that female soldiers are held to lower fitness standards, weakening the IDF’s overall combat readiness.
However, supporters counter that rigorous selection and training ensure only qualified women serve in combat roles. The October 7 Hamas attack reinforced this argument—an all-female squad from the Caracal Battalion, led by Lt.-Col. Or Ben-Yehuda, played a pivotal role in blocking Hamas’s advance near the Gaza border. Despite being outnumbered, they held their position for nearly 14 hours, engaging in intense firefights, preventing further infiltration into Israel, and eliminating approximately 100 terrorists. Their performance disproved doubts about female soldiers’ combat effectiveness.
Religious objections to women in combat continue to fuel debate. Many in Israel’s conservative sector oppose mixed-gender military service, citing strict interpretations of Jewish law regarding gender roles and modesty. In response, the IDF introduced the Proper Integration Ordinance in 2002, establishing separate living quarters, modesty restrictions, and religious soldiers’ rights, including exemptions from activities requiring close contact with women. However, female soldiers complained that the ordinance was being misused to restrict their opportunities.
In 2016, the IDF replaced it with the Joint Service Ordinance, reaffirming women’s right to serve while allowing religious male soldiers to request placement in all-male units. This sparked controversy—women’s organizations condemned it as legitimizing discrimination, while Religious Zionist leaders viewed it as capitulating to feminist agendas, undermining operational effectiveness, and discouraging religious enlistment. In 2017, the IDF expanded religious exemptions further, allowing officers and non-commissioned officers to appeal placement in mixed units on religious grounds. This escalated the controversy, leading some Religious Zionist leaders to launch a public campaign urging Orthodox men to refuse enlistment in protest. The challenge of balancing religious accommodations with gender integration remains ongoing.
Women make up 34% of all IDF soldiers, while women account for only 17.5% of the U.S. active-duty forces (as of 2022). Unlike Israel, where women have been subject to compulsory military service since the country’s founding, the U.S. has never required women to serve. In fact, it wasn’t until 1948 that President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, allowing American women to enlist in the U.S. military.
Despite Israel’s progress in integrating women into the military, it still falls short in one critical area—combat equality. While 92% of positions in the IDF are now open to women, some main infantry roles remain off-limits. In comparison, the U.S. military has allowed women to serve in all positions, including frontline combat, since 2016.
Women in the IDF have made significant strides, breaking into combat and leadership roles once considered off-limits. However, the fight for full integration continues. Debates over fitness standards, combat roles, and religious accommodations persist. During the October 7 Hamas attack, female soldiers proved they’re not just keeping up—they’re leading. As the IDF faces escalating security threats and regional tensions, women’s role in Israel’s defense will only grow.
“Security will not exist if our nation’s women do not know how to fight.” — David Ben-Gurion
