The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has also woman’s faceand not just that of volunteers, nurses or war mothers. This time we are referring to ‘the warriors’the fighters; Well, Israel has one of the armies the most feminized in the world: up to 34% of its staff are women.
This situation not only represents an exceptional event between neighboring countries, but becomes more and more accentuated: After the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, the Israelis they enlisted en masse at army combat posts.
Pioneers who fought 40 years ago equalize your rights to those of their male companions, to the young women who, today, They decide to be on the front lines of the warit is the x-ray of the most feminized army at war in the world.
an army of women
The Israeli army has the presence of women since its creationin 1948. However, its role has evolved over the years due to the different social and war situations that the country has experienced. In 2000, the Equality Amendment to the Military Service Law declared that “your right to serve in any capacity in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the same as men“.
Faced with this legislation, the most conservative sectors of society reacted with astonishment and mockerywhich makes it a very controversial measure. For a few years, the fighters were the easy target for ridicule and sexist jokesbut today its inclusion has contributed to improve the image of the army.
Female soldiers must undergo two years of training.
“There were and still are ultra-Orthodox figures who They consider that they cannot fight. But they are punctual, isolated. I interviewed more than one Orthodox rabbi support service because they contribute to national security and to society in general,” he explains to Magas Jana Bérisjournalist who has lived in Israel for 45 years. This idea supports the results of the latest surveyhe The Israel Democracy Institute, which found that among the secular public, about 70 percent of women and 67 percent of men said support increasing the number of women in combat roles.
Currently, Israel is one of the few countries in the world where They can perform the same functions in the army as them.. In fact, 34% of those serving in the IDF are women, and they also make up 18% of the military’s combat forces and 23% of all officers.
Their military service is compulsory for both sexes since 18 years old and, even if previously men had to undergo two years of training and women only one, today 12 additional months have been added in each case. “And if, for religious reasons, a woman considers that her way of life does not fit into the military framework, she can Contribute to society through national serviceas a teacher or nurse,” adds Jana Beris.
An oasis in the desert
To date, only 14 countries around the world They allow women to participate in the army under the same conditions as men. These are Germany, Australia, Canada, South KoreaDenmark, SpainFinland, FranceNew Zealand, PolandRomania, Sweden and Israel. Furthermore, the last of the nations mentioned is a exceptional case between neighboring countries.
Israel, due to its geographical location, presents itself as an oasis in the middle of the desert, since neighboring countries deeply reject the involvement of women in military work. “It’s not that they welcome girls as if they were men, it’s that the Israeli army welcomes everyone, regardless of their religion. In this country, there is a something that everyone agrees on: the army is the most egalitarian environment,” explains Béris.
3 women. 3 religions. 1 uniform.#Muslim, #Jewish And #Christian – all serving together in the army of #Israel. #FID pic.twitter.com/P5RgMaemO3
– Ship of Theseus (@JewishSpaceLazr) January 28, 2024
However, if we look at Hamas in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, things change. In these communities, they barely have rights due to the strict rules imposed the most extreme branches of Islam. Israel being a religious minority in the region, it is conceived as one more citizen who must defend his nation against external threats.
“That’s why they throw every time more women in combat positions», argues the correspondent in Israel. According to Jana Beris: “If we look at the surrounding countries, our situation is very good. They do it out of a desire to contribute to the country and demonstrate equality and improvement“Also, another reason is to “continue the legacy of those who participated before them”, which is also lacking in neighboring countries.
Towards equality
Even though the Israelis have has been part of the army since its creationhave not always had the same rights as men in their military functions. Over the years, many women have struggled to achieve equality almost finished today. And they succeeded.
This equalization process began around the years 90s and he did it hand in hand with one of the great references of the army of Israel: Alice Millerwhich Netanyahu himself defined as “an example for gender equality and further proof that in the army there is space for the whole population“.
Women have been part of the Israeli army since its creation in 1948.
20 years ago, this woman stood up to the State of Israel and he came before the Supreme Court with a mission: he also wanted the opportunity to be part of the elite course for pilotswhich at the time was reserved for men. After a historic vote, it was considered that the ban on recruiting them in this sector it was unconstitutional.
Ultimately, Miller did not pass the entrance exams due to his health, but he left an indelible mark in history. And, like her, many others arrived: Sheri Rahat She graduated in 1998 as an F-6 combat navigator, her first in five decades; Roni Zuckerman She was the first combat pilot; And Yaël Romainthe first pilot course graduate that Miller failed to pass.
7-O, a turning point
Little by little, they made a place for themselves, not only in administrative positions, but also in lines of defense. But it was not until October 7, 2023, the fateful day that Hamas carried out its last major attack, when Israelis gained strength in combat zones. “That day, young people, soldiers and female officers played a key role in the defense of civilian communities,” comments the journalist.
Several all-female tank crews They rushed into the desert to help stop the terrorist attack. “These tankers saved a large number of people in a kibbutz. They managed to kill many terrorists and moved forward without hesitation. In this way, they set an example and motivate other women to enlist,” explains Beris.
Most of the recruits are educated young girls.
For his part, Idit Shafran Gittleman, director of the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, said that “all They saw what happened on October 7th. Women contribute to securitythey don’t reduce it. And he added: “The debate is over“, referring to sectors of society who did not believe they could hold these military positions.
In addition to defending Israeli civilians during the attack, these women, responsible for monitoring in the Gaza Strip, warned their superiors on several occasions that “Hamas was planning something big“by noticing strange movements at the border a few weeks before the attack. They were right, but senior officials ignored his observations.
“We saw them training every day what aggression would look like” one of the soldiers told the BBC, who also said that “they felt that no one listened to their concerns” And ““He has lost count of the number of times he has filed a complaint.”
Increase in women
October 7, 2023 was not only a turning point in the image that Israeli society had of female soldiersalso affected women in the army who were not on the front line and those who were doing their military service: from that day on, women asked more frequently enlist in positions traditionally held by men.
Since October 7, 12% of recruits have requested to be placed in combat positions
According to a report published by the FDIhe increase in participation women in combat units was from 157% after the attack57% more than expected. In addition, It is worth noting that at the same time last year, participation was 102%, according to the FDI. This involves the participation of women. highest since 1948.
Specifically, YesAnd enlisted en masse in light infantry, border police and corps battalions Artilleryas well as search and rescue. More precisely, in the Aviation an increase of 114% was noted; in the light infantry units of the Border Defense Corps they had a participation of 158%; and in those of Combat Intelligence Collectiona share of 210%.
Shay, Maya and other soldiers
Among the combat positions, the profiles are very diverse, even if the majority of girls respond to young agesbetween 19 and 25 years old, and with studies. Moreover, many of them are active on social networks and they post photographs during their working days or in military uniform.
One of them was Sergeant Shay Ashram19 years old, belonging to Unit 414 of the Border Defense Force. Ashram, Despite his back problems, he fought to stay in the army. However, he died during the October 7 attack, when Hamas terrorists They invaded his position in Nahal Oz, near the Gaza Strip.
@shay_590
Her father told Channel 13, “She was a girl witty, kind, and academically talented. A motivated young woman, with strong opinions and a determined character. “She cared about others, laughed a lot, and shared dances on TikTok to brighten up the world.”
In Spain, we remember the case of Maya Villalobo (19 years old), the young binational woman who also lost her life during the attack last October and who was at the time perform military service in the 414th Battalion, like Shay and Maya, they are. hundreds of women those who have passed or are an active part of the Israeli army. Will this nation manage to have the same number of men and women in its military team?
