Report: Women integrated into IDF despite scientific evidence

For nearly two decades, the Israeli Defense Force has operated mixed-gender combat units, integrating female recruits into a variety of positions through the Israeli military. More and more combat roles have been opened to women who volunteer to serve in them, as opposed to the non-combatant units in which female soldiers served in the past.

IDF’s public relations division has made much of Israel’s progressive approach to gender in the armed forces, a new report suggests the army may be ignoring reality that does not conform to the vision it has pursued since the late-1990s.

According to the report, published by the national religious Liba Center, the IDF’s own studies of mixed-gender units reveal a far less optimistic view of female service in combat roles than the image projected by army spokespeople.

The Liba Report, segments of which were obtained by Arutz Sheva, cites internal army studies going back as far as 2000 which show female combat soldiers suffered serious physical injuries at a rate significantly higher than their male peers.

The first such study, conducted from 1999 to 2000, showed that women in combat units suffered serious injuries during training at a rate more than six times higher than men. While just 8% of men suffered such injuries, a full 50% of women did, including many suffering from broken bones.

A later study, also conducted in 2000, assessed the feasibility of integrating women into the elite air rescue unit – the 669. The conclusion of the study clearly stated that female service members were not suited to the physiological stress. Other studies surveyed showed that during times of physical exertion, including in combat situations, female service members are far more likely to suffer irreversible injuries.

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