Lady IDF commander says enlistment "equality" doesn't avail women

Odelia Kedmi, a former IDF official who's a combat veteran, told Israel National News that the way the IDF's been handling female recruitment does no good for them:

Odelia Kedmi, former IDF commander and deputy mayor of Zichron Yaakov, leading activist, and advocate for women’s gun licensing, spoke to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News about IDF service and gender equality.

“Twenty years ago, I was one of those women serving in a combat unit," Kedmi recalled. “Everything I say comes from my own experience. From that, I truly believe women are just as capable as men. But in the army, I quickly learned that the expectations for women were much lower. That’s when I realized there was a bigger story at play - that women were sometimes being used to promote agendas I wasn’t even aware of."

She gave a vivid example: “When we had to pass an obstacle course, the first obstacle was a wall. Except for maybe one girl in the unit, no one could climb it with full gear. It was frustrating. Eventually, the commander suggested emptying our water bottles, then removing magazines, and later even placing a bench to help us over. That would never happen for men. I’ve heard of situations where male soldiers could be pulled over a wall without help - that simply wouldn’t happen."

Despite these frustrations, Kedmi says encouragement from leadership and the goal of integrating women into combat units kept her motivated. But she warns that the army isn’t fully transparent about the challenges women face: “Women are more likely to sustain severe injuries in combat units, and most don’t complete the full process. Yet the army is reluctant to release this information, so we have very little data."

She also highlighted broader structural issues, including the integration of haredi soldiers. “If the army wants women in every unit, including commando units, we must consider how new populations will impact unit dynamics. There isn’t enough real discussion on this," she said.

Well Haredis can't continue to act like having women around in any situation is literally a problem, and can't force the IDF to accomodate their "values" at the expense of female staffers. Besides, just like ordinary male soldiers, the Haredis are supposed to be defending the women's safety and dignity, not belittling it, and that's why it's wrong, morally or otherwise, to do disgusting things like turn backs to a lady instructor, and even demand women don't sing when it's not even a synagogue they're in. After October 7, 2023, it's especially vital to consider such bizarre "customs" can't be used anymore.

Beyond the army, Kedmi has worked to expand women’s access to gun licenses. “I’m saying that if you lie to women, you hurt women. And women are absolutely capable. My criticism is towards the system, the army, which is not doing enough to understand what the real potential of women is. If you choose to put women in combat units, are you using their potential to the maximum? I absolutely believe in women, and I see it with my own eyes. They are amazing when they have a gun in their hand, and the feeling that you can control a situation and that you’re not helpless - that is women's empowerment. I was fortunate enough to help broaden the criteria in the Knesset so that women can possess a gun license. Before October 7, about 3,000 women were licensed; now nearly 30,000 are. Women instructors and observers are now eligible in the army to carry a gun, and that empowers them to protect themselves."

Looking ahead, Kedmi stresses that reform is necessary. “One of the blessings of our times, especially post-October 7, is that we woke up. We clearly see areas that need serious repair, particularly in the IDF. The public must pressure elected officials to act. My goal is to protect women and ensure they can serve safely and effectively."

Of course, let's not forget that it was certain repellent male staffers who led to the situation as well, after they ignored warnings and one commander even told an observer she was "imagining" things, which is stunningly offensive, irresponsible and entirely removed from reality. Any army commander who takes that kind of approach has no business working as in the military and should be ostracized by wider society.