Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Thursday that the IDF has not only not discussed ending military service for women but is interested in expanding their service and assignments. The general's statement was issued by the IDF Spokesperson's office in response to an article in Haaretz, according to which Chief IDF Rabbi Avichai Rontzky said there was no room for women in the military.

According to the IDF statement, Rabbi Rontzky was asked to clarify his comments and said he did not think there was no room for women serving in the military. The statement notes the appreciation for the role of women in the military since the founding of the Jewish state and before that in the Haganah and other pre-state militias.