While organizations seeking to advance the cause of women’s equality, retired IDF Major-General Yiftach Ron-Tal is warning the placement of women combatants in the IDF is seriously compromising the military’s abilities. Ron-Tal’s comments come as the Tank Corps is heading towards opening its doors to female soldiers, a move that has hesder yeshivot and rabbonim concerned and angry, some announcing the IDF will have to decide between the bnei torah or the women serving, but it will never be both side-by-side.

Ron-Tal released statements of warning on Sunday, 19 Cheshvan, that integrating the Tank and Artillery Corps would be a mistake and the IDF will pay a price as its operational abilities would undoubtedly be compromised. “Have we totally lost our minds” questioned the senior commander, adding “whoever is pushing this is truly crazy”, warning if this moves to the paratroops, Givati or Golani, the nation will be in trouble.

Ron-Tal, who is the CEO of Israel Electric Company today, warns the continued integration of the IDF will lead to disaster, calling for a halt of the process which the equal rights activists continue to applaud.

It is not surprising that Ron-Tal has already been labeled “chauvinistic” for his remarks, which he says are based entirely on operational military reality and not in any way related to being for or against women’s rights. As the attacks increased on Facebook and other social media platforms, Ron-Tal responded and explained based on his vast experience in combat he cannot support a move that will compromise Israel’s security.

He added the “Trauma of battle” will have a profound change on women, who he believes should be wives and mothers. He warns being a combat commander will undermine one’s maternal instincts and the changes that will occur will be irreversible. Obviously, his remarks are not received warmly by those liberals who feel women can serve in any and all positions men can.

Former IDF Chief Rabbi Yisrael Weiss also spoke out and raised the matter of “other things” that might occur if men and women are inside tanks, calling such an arrangement unacceptable.

Meanwhile, the Artillery Corps on Sunday named its first female battalion commander.

Despite the statements of those mentioned above, and others, the Artillery Corps on Sunday 19 Cheshvan proudly announced its first female commander, Major Reut, who becomes the second female in the IDF to command a combat unit.

Lt.-Colonel Oshrat Bachar was the IDF’s first female combat unit commander and recently concluded her command of a combat intelligence-gathering battalion in southern Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)