In Response to Court Decision, Israeli Military Issues Statement Saying It Is Working to Find Way to Integrate Women Into Combat Units
The IDF is working to integrate women into combat roles as much as possible, following a Supreme Court instruction to carry out a pilot program.
Jerusalem, 10 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) — After about two and a half years of intense, multi-front, and unprecedented war, in which the IDF’s operational missions were expanded and the burden on the reserve system rose significantly — the IDF needs every male and female soldier.
The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) issued a statement Wednesday evening stating that, in its opinion, Israel’s Supreme Court did not order it to integrate women soldiers into the IDF armored corps, but rather instructed to carry out the planned pilot program on the matter. The statement came after “National Religious” (Zionist orthodox Israelis who serve in the military) voiced objections to men and women serving together in integrated combat units.
“As the people’s army, the IDF sees supreme importance in integrating all populations, while making great efforts to preserve their lifestyles and needs, in a manner that does not harm one population at the expense of another,” the IDF said in the statement, explaining that it is working to satisfy the needs of all of the sectors of Israeli society that serve within its ranks.
“The IDF is working to integrate women into combat roles as much as possible,” it added.
The IDF went on to state that “a pilot is just that — an initial trial for examination going forward,” and it will be carried out in accordance with the “Joint Service Order, while strictly adhering to all required operational and professional standards, and in accordance with operational needs.”
However, the IDF said there is “no alternative in which joint service of men and women in the same framework will take place in the future,” that its leaders have been “in continuous contact” with representatives from all sides and that it “values and appreciates the contribution of all its male and female soldiers, including the soldiers of the Hesder yeshivas, to the security effort across all fronts.”
Hesder is a program that allows orthodox Israelis to combine Tora study with their military service. Its participants generally serve in the armored.
