MK Elazar Stern
MK Elazar SternPhoto: Miriam Alster, Flash 90

The Committee for Promotion of Gender Equality and Female Status conducted a discussion regarding female soldiers and their requirements and difficulties in the course of a day honoring religious female soldiers.

MK Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid) said during the discussion that "conditions for religious soldiers in the army today are much better than in my time, since they have multiplied and this is what's happening with female soldiers, despite those who oppose them.

Stern lambasted the Education Ministry for placing obstacles before girls who want to enlist in the IDF. Stern claimed that "most of the public applauds those girls who serve for their contribution to the state.

"When 25% of graduates of national religious education join the army, it is impossible not to provide them with information. Why should boys receive information preparing them for service and not girls? If female service is more dangerous and complex, then all the more so we should invest resources in preparing them!"

Rabbi Amital Bareli of the Chotam organization said at the discussion that "according to our investigations, 72% of parents in National religious schools want their children to go to national service [and not the IDF] so why should we bring a group which wishes to educate girls and parents against their wishes? This is coercion.

'The Alumah organization changes female attitudes towards army service but doesn't care what happens to them afterwards. The religious public realizes that the most significant place for a girl to contribute is in national service.

MK Aliza Lavi(Yesh Atid) concluded the discussion by calling on Education Minister Naftali Bennett and his staff to "demonstrate responsibility" and to write a plan of action to prepare girls from religious educational institutions who wish to enlist in the IDF.