Hagit Rotenberg, writing for B'Sheva, reports that the issue revolved around a training course for combat medics, for which 20 hesder students signed up.



The soldiers, whose commitment to Torah values mandates practical fulfillment of the Biblical commandment to "keep your camp holy," noted several problems from the outset: The course was headed by a female officer who walked amongst them during training when they were partially dressed; the meals were served in mixed-gender; and the daily line-ups were held directly opposite the women's residences.



Some yeshiva soldiers resigned from the course from the outset, against their original plans and ambitions. Others refused to leave, but demanded a female-free course. The soldiers were backed up by the Union of Hesder Yeshivot, which similarly demanded a solution to all the problems, threatening that all the hesder-niks would leave if not.



Union director Eitan Ozeri told Rotenberg, "The army first tried to solve the problems 'from within,' but when they saw that that didn't work, they decided to include the yeshiva soldiers in a new course that will begin next week and which will not have these problems."



Ozeri's conclusion: "When we stand united in our demands, we succeed in receiving what we want from the army."