IDF Women

Under the radar: The program bringing ultra-Orthodox women into the IDF

Haredi women assist other like-minded women in joining the military, with exciting new avenues of exploration, and without compromising their way of life

Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin, former Israel Air Force commander, awards Esti Solomon the Above and Beyond medal for the program to integrate haredi women into the air force.
Head of the Arabic media desk at the IDF Spokesperson Unit Major "Captain" Ella Waweya; highest ranked Arab Muslim IDF soldier. 20.7.2024.

Captain Ella trades desk for the field as IDF's new Arab spokesperson

 There is a high demand for combat roles among women in the November-December 2023 draft

Women's integration into IDF 'disaster': Rabbis send letter to Netanyahu demanding intervention

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrives to a conference of the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon in Jerusalem, December 25, 2025

Smotrich doubles down on refusal to enlist daughter, claims IDF is 'no place for women'


Women headed for IDF’s prestigious Sayeret Matkal?

The program will begin based on whether there are enough female recruits who meet the rigorous criteria.

Women will soon be able to serve in the Israeli Air Force's elite  669 Search and Rescue Unit as well as the Yahalom combat engineering unit.

Nothing must be allowed to take us away from the sacred duty to serve in the reserves - opinion

Recent protests have seen members of Israel's reserves refuse to serve, this endangers the unity of our Nation.

 IDF Cheif of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi looks on as the writer receives a citation of excellence for his reserve duty, shaking hands with Brig.-Gen Benny Ben Ari, commander of the Reserve Forces Corps, at a ceremony earlier this year.

Violent riots break out overnight in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem

The riots were held by ultra-Orthodox Israelis in response to a variety of municipal and national policies.

 The aftermath of violent riots in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh on Wednesday evening, June 28, 2023.

IDF to penalize striking reservists, disregard public campaign

The IDF’s view is that it wants to keep itself out of politics and does not want to get involved in responding to public letter campaigns.

 Israeli soldiers and rescue forces seen at Mount Harif military base in the southern Negev desert, close to the border with Egypt, on June 3, 2023

High Court: Should women serve in all IDF combat units?

The petitioners argued that women were able to meet the demands of a wide variety of heavy infantry and special units and the law demanded that women be admitted.

Women in an IDF combat unit help one of their fellow fighters during a training exercise

First IDF mixed gender combat unit in W. Bank soon to go operational

The Jerusalem Post speaks to the female platoon commander of the Panther mixed female-male combat battalion about readiness for combat in the West Bank.

Female IDF soldiers of the Bardales Battalion

IDF draft report: Which Israeli cities top draft statistics?

Tel Aviv finished in 13th place for men and 9th place for women, with an even lower rate of draftees from Northern Tel Aviv.

Israeli soldiers of Caracal battalion

Jewish women's org. celebrates eight women who changed Israeli history

The campaign will be integrated into existing Momentum programs like the Momentum Fellowship and the Momentum Yearlong Journey. 

A young girl raises an Israeli flag.

IDF: Women can't serve in combat units due to physiological differences

From 2020-2021, the IDF conducted an analysis of combat positions for women, a follow-up to a previous study.

Women will soon be able to serve in the Israeli Air Force's elite  669 Search and Rescue Unit as well as the Yahalom combat engineering unit.

Promoting equality for women in Israel and beyond - opinion

If we look at the situation of women in the Jewish world today, there is no escaping the question of whether or not we have actually achieved a just distribution of resources.

Head of Spokesman's Department, World Zionist Organization.