In a recent development that highlights the ongoing challenges of gender integration in the Israeli military, the IDF has announced a significant delay in its planned pilot program for female soldiers to serve in the Armored Corps. This decision, revealed in response to a High Court petition, pushes the program's start date to November 2025 at the earliest, marking a setback for advocates of expanded roles for women in combat units.
Currently, female soldiers' involvement in tank operations is limited to the Border Defense Corps, where they serve in an all-female tank company within the Caracal mixed-gender light infantry battalion. This unit primarily operates along the Egyptian border, not participating in major conflicts or deep behind enemy lines.
The IDF cites the ongoing war as the primary reason for the delay, claiming a shortage of available tanks due to combat operations. "During the course of the war, many tanks were damaged, which are disabled at this stage and are not used for combat or training, and it is not expected that new tanks will soon be introduced into the corps," the military stated in its court response.
However, this explanation has been met with skepticism from some quarters. Several senior officers in armored units fighting in the Gaza Strip have contradicted the IDF's official stance, telling The Times of Israel that very few tanks had actually been disabled during the fighting. These officers assert that damaged vehicles are quickly repaired and returned to the battlefield, casting doubt on the severity of the tank shortage cited by the IDF.
This discrepancy between official statements and on-the-ground reports raises questions about the true motivations behind the delay. Critics may view this as a potential setback for gender equality in the military, while supporters of the delay might argue for the prioritization of immediate operational needs over long-term integration goals.
As the debate continues, the fate of women's expanded roles in the Armored Corps remains uncertain.
* The Times of Israel contributed to this article.