FAQ: Women in the IDF
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A History of Controversy and Service
WOMEN IN THE IDF 1
Do women serve in the Israeli military?
Yes. Military service is compulsory for able-bodied female citizens. Married women, mothers, pregnant women, Arab citizens, and religious women (as recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate) are exempt from the draft.
What are the origins of female service in the IDF?
Women have had a presence in the military since serving in the pre-State Jewish paramilitary groups. In 1949, Israel’s Security Service Law mandated that women must serve in the IDF for a period of 18 months (subject to the exemptions detailed in the previous question). Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion was adamant that, for the sake of equality, the burden of service must fall on men and women alike. However, women were precluded from serving in many roles, limited largely to work in offices, as nurses, or as teachers.
What has changed since 1948-1949?
In 1973, after the Yom Kippur War, more roles were opened up to women in order to free more men for combat roles, but combat roles were still prohibited for women. A significant shift occurred in the wake of a 1995 Supreme Court case in which an Israeli woman, Alice Miller, petitioned to be allowed to train as a pilot. The Supreme Court ruled in Miller’s favor and, since then, combat roles have increasingly been opened up to women. As of 2021, around 18% of IDF combat soldiers were women. Close to 90% of all military roles are now open to women, as opposed to the 55% of positions that were open to women in the 1980s. In the US, for comparison, since the 1990s, 24% of female veterans have served in combat positions. 2
Are there alternatives to military service for Israeli women?
Many women who are exempt from military service opt for Sherut Leumi, national service. The majority of this work is done in schools, but can also be in hospitals, nursing homes, disadvantaged communities, and other organizations.
What sorts of IDF units are not open to women?
The roles that are not open to women are combat positions that involve front-line assault activity. In the US, for comparison, since 2016, every military position has been open to men and women alike, without exception, so long as they qualify and meet specific standards. 3
For how long do women serve?
The conscription terms are slightly shorter for women than their male counterparts, with women currently serving 24 months in the IDF.
1 For more in-depth information about women’s service in the IDF, see here.
2 Women in the US Military: Growing Share, Distinctive Profile. Pew Research Center.
3 Statement by then-US Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
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