IDF Women

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

Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, aka ‘Captain Ella,’ was recently named as the next army spokesperson for the Arab world

Head of the Arabic media desk at the IDF Spokesperson Unit Major "Captain" Ella Waweya; highest ranked Arab Muslim IDF soldier. 20.7.2024.
 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'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (RZP) speaks at a Religious Zionist Party press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem on February 16, 2026.

Finance Minister Smotrich says he won't educate his daughter to enlist in the IDF


1 out of 11 women progresses toward joining elite IDF combat unit

Going forward, the one female candidate will need to go up directly against men during any group training or wrestling exercise.

Female IDF soldiers of the Bardales Battalion

The IDF has a problem with female soldiers - opinion

We are already heading in a dangerous direction with female representation in this new government. Will we allow this to happen in the IDF as well?

 IDF CHIEF of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi speaks at a conference of the Institute for National Security Studies, in Tel Aviv last week. Last year, Kohavi condemned instances of sexual assault and vowed to root them out, but not much has changed, says the writer. (

IDF haredi unit forces 2 female soldiers, Druze soldier out of base

The troubled IDF haredi Netzah Yehuda Battalion was moved to the Syrian border from the West Bank, but the need to maintain a haredi lifestyle saw them kick 2 female soldiers and a Druze soldier out.

 Netzah Yehuda Battalion

Gaza, Syria quieter as West Bank ramps up - IDF 2022 stats

There were 53 military visits to Abraham Accords countries in 2022.

 IDF training exercises 2022.

Ex-IDF intel chief blasts Maoz for going after IDF women, LGBTQ

The Gender Advisor office was established in recent years after a series of incidents in which commanders and soldiers used their power to sexually assault, harass or otherwise oppress women.

 NOAM CHAIRMAN Avi Maoz at the Knesset: Great concern.

Will new gov’t set back progress of IDF women in combat units? - analysis

Half of the new government is made up of three to four political parties that either completely oppose women serving in the IDF or specifically oppose them serving in any combat units.

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.

Soldiers take note: The clothing revolution in the IDF is underway

Starting in August 2023, women IDF conscripts will be able to choose between two types of pants—cargo pants, or pants with back pockets.

Pants with back pocket

Grapevine: Lonely in Likud

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

NIR BARKAT at a rally supporting him on Thursday night, June 10 2021

Tzipi Livni: Israeli attacks against IDF soldiers likely to increase

The former foreign minister warned of a growing phenomenon of attacks by Jewish Israelis against soldiers after a female soldier was attacked in Hebron over the weekend.

SECURITY PERSONNEL inspect the scene where a female soldier was shot yesterday in Hebron.

In a first, Israeli general opens up about IDF use of armed drones

The armed drones not only provide Israel with additional firepower but also allow for quick detection and attack against targets.

 IDF drone