75% Israelis support coed service in the IDF

According to a Hiddush survey, the overwhelming majority of the Israeli Jewish public supports coed military service, including most of the voters for the Government Coalition parties.

30/05/2017 13:08

Tags: Hiddush polls · IDF · women · gender discrimination · Chief Rabbinate

Female IDF soldiers practice shooting, source: Wikipedia

75% of the Israeli Jewish public and 95% of the secular Jewish public expressed their support for coed military service. Mixed gender military service is an example of the broader struggle for religious freedom and equality in Israel. Those who oppose this do not want a Jewish and democratic state, but prefer a theocratic state governed by their extremist religious ideology.

Recently, the debate over men and women serving together in IDF combat units has intensified in Israel. The ultra-Orthodox sector and part of the Zionist Orthodox sector are vehemently opposed to increasing the integration of women into the army. An extensive campaign against women's service was launched in Israel under the heading "Save the IDF. End coed service."

To understand the depth of this resistance, it is important to remember that the Israeli Chief Rabbinate forbids the recruitment of women into the military. In this Hiddush survey, public opinion was examined in light of this resistance. 75% expressed support for "the senior IDF leadership, which promotes coed service, viewing it as a positive expression of support for equality," and favors "exploring additional possibilities for integrating women into the military."

Among those who support this, are 95% of the secular Jewish public and 86% of the traditional Jewish public. Among voters for the Government Coalition parties, 80% of Likud, 82% of Kulanu, 89% of Yisrael Beiteinu, and 62% of Jewish Home voters support this. Not surprisingly, support among women (78%) is higher than among men (71%).

Only 25% expressed support for the "Ultra-Orthodox and Zionist Orthodox battle against coed service, which claims that such service is harmful to religious soldiers and the military's objectives." 96% of the ultra-Orthodox public and 74% of the Zionist Orthodox public supported this statement.

Coed service is an example of the broader struggle for religious freedom and equality of civic burden in Israel. Those opposed to coed military service do not want a Jewish and democratic state, but rather aim to dictate their extreme religious views to the administration of the State. Supporting coed service is an inseparable part of promoting gender equality in Israel. We should support this balanced trend, which is committed to the equality of women and the expansion of their integration into all levels of military service. We must also support the feelings and the needs of ultra-Orthodox and Zionist Orthodox soldiers. This survey makes it clear that most of the Israeli public is not willing to cede the principles of equality and women's equal standing in society to fundamentalist religious dictates, and hopefully Israel's politicians will not turn their backs upon the public.