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'


Meet the women of the IDF who are tipping the scales of the old boys club

Three senior female officers in the Home Front Command’s Medical Department spoke to the ‘Post.’

Lt.-Col. Merav Shavi-Sultan

Senior rabbis slam IDF over issue of female trainer

Calls for apology after MKs and army criticize religious soldiers who had been ordered to look away

An Israeli soldier wears phylacteries as he prays at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City February 22, 2012.

Record number of women volunteer for combat units

The number has more than doubled in three years.

Female soldiers in an IDF artillery unit distribute weapons to their unit.

First-ever female tank commanders make IDF history

“There is potential here for girls who really want to work for the defense of the state.”

History is made with first four female tank commanders in IDF history

200 National-Religious rabbis denounce IDF over 'liberal agenda'

The rabbis oppose religious men serving in close quarters to women, seeing it as contravening a religious lifestyle and even as endangering their religious identity.

IDF soldiers take part in battlefield maneuvers in preparation with potential war in the north.

Amid social change, can the IDF remain the 'People’s Army?'

A round-table discussion with Prof. Yuval Shany, Maj.-Gen. Orna Barbivai and Prof. Amichai Cohen.

Soldiers from the Nahal Haredi unit, the ultra-Orthodox battalion in the Israel Defense Forces

Four sons and misogyny

Misogyny is a disease that must be cured.

Male and female soldiers remember the fallen at a Remembrance Day ceremony on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl

Petition calls on gov't to fire rabbis who object to women in combat roles

Video released by Female Combatants Forum calls on rabbis to apologize or be fired.

Female combat soldiers in the mixed-gender Caracal Battalion train in urban warfare.

IDF's Air Defense Division to get 1st female deputy battalion commander

"There are no limits to what you can do if you set your mind to it," said U.S. Army Maj. Mary Thorton.

Maj. Mary Thorton, Executive Officer 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

International women's day: honoring Israel's true superwomen

Amazing women, who despite disabilities caused by tragedy stretch the boundaries of their capabilities, make the world seem a better place.

Maytal Wax (left) and Einat Malka