IDF: 160 Percent Increase in Females in Combat Roles

The integration of women in the IDF is continually on the rise with women now representing 18 percent of the army’s combat roles.

By Israel Hayom via JNS

The number of women in combat roles in the Israeli Defense Forces has risen by 160 percent over the past six years, it was revealed on Tuesday during a discussion at the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

According to Brig. Gen. Amir Vadmani, head of the Manpower Directorate’s Planning and Research Department, the integration of women in the IDF is continually on the rise with women now representing 18 percent of the army’s combat roles.

Vadmani added that the scope of women in non-combat roles has dropped by 25 percent, and that this week the IDF will launch another pilot for female combat soldiers in the Armored Corps and Border Defense Force.

The discussion was also attended by Mor Lidani, who in May, along with three other pre-army recruits, filed a High Court of Justice petition urging the defense minister and IDF chief ‎of staff to allow women to try out for special-forces units.

Lidani was joined by Knesset member Merav Michaeli (Labor), who lambasted the IDF’s conduct on the issue.

“The IDF must aspire to let every person maximize their potential during their service, women and men alike,” he said.

This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.

The post IDF: 160 Percent Increase in Females in Combat Roles first appeared on United with Israel.

United with Israel