Last Thursday (23.7.17), we participated in a panel discussion on the issue of the service of women in the IDF – gender segregation and "proper integration" in cooperation with the Center for Jewish and Democratic Law.
Prof. Ruth Halperin Kaddari was the panel moderator. She said, "The IDF finds itself in a head-on collision between the direction of the soldiers, the officers and the religious in the IDF, and in opening up positions for women, the increase in their willingness to integrate into these positions, including religious soldiers, and the opening of more mixed service for soldiers. This is just like the issues faced in Israel as a society – the issue of religion versus state, Haredim versus secular and versus religious Zionism, feminism versus conservatism, ultra-Orthodox integration in society, integration of minority communities against the attempt to rule minority norms on the majority, integration versus segregation…"
Among the speakers was Dr. Yofi Tirosh (Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University) who presented her viewpoint that the real drama is that of the "regular" female soldiers. The story is not only what happens to the female soldiers while serving in the IDF. The IDF is a place for self-development, building connections, improving resumes, etc. This also affects life outside and after the IDF in politics and business, "the norms of modesty that are encoded are breaking the spirit of religious women soldiers as secular".
In the discussion we discussed this important and current issue, Many different opinions were expressed and shared. It was very interesting and an important issue to consider.
We would like to thank the speakers and participants!
For further information about the panel click here:
'Integrating men and women harms the army's cohesion' / ARUTZ SHEVA
