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Women in Israel:
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Israel is the only country in the world that requires women to serve in the armed forces. This obligation supports the ethos of the IDF as the nation’s army and instills a profound sense that the entire society contributes to the security of the country.
“The army is the supreme symbol of duty and as long as women are not equal to men in performing this duty, they have not yet obtained true equality. If the daughters of Israel are absent from the army, then the character of the Yishuv will be distorted.”
- David Ben Gurion, First Prime Minister of Israel.Today, women make up 34% of all soldiers and 57% of all officers in the IDF - numbers unparalleled among militaries worldwide. 92% of positions in the IDF are available for female soldiers and eight times the number of women on active duty serve in reserves. Female officers at the rank of Colonel has grown by 100% and with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by 70% in the past decade.
Reference
News & Video
- First Female Appointed as Major General (May 2011)
- Three Female Pilots Join Air Force (December 2005)
- First Female Graduates as Fighter Pilot (June 2001)
- Female "Lone" Soldiers Wishing Happy Holiday [Video]
- Female Infantry Weapons Instructors [Video]
- Female Combat Hummer Operators [Video]
- Female Paratrooper Instructors [Video]
- IDF Honors Women's Service [Video]
Photos courtesy of the IDF Spokesperson
