The IDF did not elaborate on the reasons that led Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Aviv Kochavi to decide that women fighters would be included in the Air Force Hits Rescue Unit. Which was the basis for the decision, which was revealed yesterday in "Israel Today".
The chief of staff would do well to explain the decision. Incorporating women is a particularly important value, but since it is a matter of controversy (also in the IDF) - there is nothing like sunlight to reflect dilemmas and soften objections.
This is true for the general public, and it is true at home indoors.
When Gadi Izenkot, Kochavi's predecessor, took over as chief of staff, he set up a multi-armed committee that sought to examine and promote the issue of the integration of women in combat roles.
The work of the committee has led to the expansion of the integration of women in combat roles in the navy, including an increase in the number of seamen in the seamen's course.
She opened the door to the integration of women as ZMA operatives in the Engineering Corps, as combatants operating advanced weapons in the Artillery Corps and as combat documenters.
The committee also examined even then the possibility of integrating combatants in Unit 669 and withdrew from it, understanding that there was no difference between fighting in this unit and other combat units.
However, following the work of the committee, the way was opened for the integration of women as paramedics in 669, and the integration of women doctors in the unit was expanded.
But that committee made headlines because of another issue: the integration of women in armor.
Since it was clear that this was a particularly explosive matter, it was pre-determined that women would serve in tanks for the purity of women only, and that they would be integrated only in border defense activities and not in offensive activity in enemy territory.
That pilot ended successfully at the end of Izenkot's tenure, and he left the summaries to his successor, Kochavi, who after some deliberation decided on another pilot.
Several years have passed since then, and some of the women who joined the pilot have advanced to the positions of tank headquarters, but the IDF has not yet officially decided on the matter, and it is possible that the decision will be rolled out to the next chief of staff.
Instead, the IDF hurried to decide on 669, without even conducting a pilot. This left quite a few officers confused; The court ruled, and the decision was made.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
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