The Israeli military is preparing to end the inclusion of women in various units of the country’s military. A statement to this effect was signed by the Jewish priests. Authorities say the decision was prompted by the inability of soldiers to work with women following traditional Jewish law.
The new decision comes after the IDF announced last Friday that it would allow women to serve for the first time on Israel’s elite helicopterbone search and rescue unit, including Jewish priests. The IDF’s announcement came ahead of an appeal by the High Court against the recruitment of women seeking complete gender equality in the IDF.
“We call on the people of Israel to refrain from any dangerous incidents and to maintain the unity of the Israeli Defense Forces and the nation,” the statement said.
Currently, in addition to the Army, many women work with men in Israeli air defense units. Of these, the IDF estimates that 95 percent of women serve in the Air Force.