Days before International Women’s Day and for the first time since the beginning of the “Swords of Iron” war in Gaza, the IDF General Staff held a discussion on placements for senior officers. Although, as expected, the published list of appointments is characterized by a distinct male majority, four appointments of women to senior positions stand out. Col. Reut Rettig-Weiss was appointed commander of the 214 Division’s artillery brigade. In addition, Lt. Col. G. was promoted to the position of colonel and appointed, for the first time ever, to the commander of a base in the Air Force. Moreover, two other women were promoted to the position of colonel: Lt. Col. S. will be appointed to command the Prisma Center in the Teleprocessing Unit and Lt. Col. Dikla Eliyahu will be the Deputy Comptroller of the IDF.
The list of appointments is published in the wake of the impressive performance by women in the “Swords of Iron” war and the meaning attached to it. It is also worth noting that three candidates for army service have submitted a letter to the Chief of Staff, in which they demand to be allowed to enlist in the infantry units. In their letter they point out that now, when the IDF has an acute need to increase the fighting force, the fact that the potential recruitment of women fighters is being ignored is outrageous. We will remind you that a decision is expected to be made soon regarding a petition pending in the Supreme Court, which demands that the IDF opens all the commando units for women. So far, the army has announced that it will also open up to female soldiers the Yahalom Unit of the Combat Engineering Corps; Unit 669, which specializes in aerial rescue missions; and Sayeret Matkal, the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit.
The issues of women’s promotion to senior positions and women’s service in combat positions are significant and are intertwined, since the lack of combat experience is often one of the barriers to promoting women in the IDF and to integrating them in decision-making centers. As of November 2022, the percentage of women in the IDF at the rank of colonel was only 5%, brigadier general 4%, and colonel 9%. The steps the IDF is taking to promote women and provide equal opportunities are worthy, but it is hoped that by next Women’s Day, their gender will cease to be a barrier or limiting factor.
Days before International Women’s Day and for the first time since the beginning of the “Swords of Iron” war in Gaza, the IDF General Staff held a discussion on placements for senior officers. Although, as expected, the published list of appointments is characterized by a distinct male majority, four appointments of women to senior positions stand out. Col. Reut Rettig-Weiss was appointed commander of the 214 Division’s artillery brigade. In addition, Lt. Col. G. was promoted to the position of colonel and appointed, for the first time ever, to the commander of a base in the Air Force. Moreover, two other women were promoted to the position of colonel: Lt. Col. S. will be appointed to command the Prisma Center in the Teleprocessing Unit and Lt. Col. Dikla Eliyahu will be the Deputy Comptroller of the IDF.
The list of appointments is published in the wake of the impressive performance by women in the “Swords of Iron” war and the meaning attached to it. It is also worth noting that three candidates for army service have submitted a letter to the Chief of Staff, in which they demand to be allowed to enlist in the infantry units. In their letter they point out that now, when the IDF has an acute need to increase the fighting force, the fact that the potential recruitment of women fighters is being ignored is outrageous. We will remind you that a decision is expected to be made soon regarding a petition pending in the Supreme Court, which demands that the IDF opens all the commando units for women. So far, the army has announced that it will also open up to female soldiers the Yahalom Unit of the Combat Engineering Corps; Unit 669, which specializes in aerial rescue missions; and Sayeret Matkal, the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit.
The issues of women’s promotion to senior positions and women’s service in combat positions are significant and are intertwined, since the lack of combat experience is often one of the barriers to promoting women in the IDF and to integrating them in decision-making centers. As of November 2022, the percentage of women in the IDF at the rank of colonel was only 5%, brigadier general 4%, and colonel 9%. The steps the IDF is taking to promote women and provide equal opportunities are worthy, but it is hoped that by next Women’s Day, their gender will cease to be a barrier or limiting factor.