The integration of women into frontline tank crews has been under consideration for years, but repeatedly delayed by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Female soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)will be allowed to serve in the Armored Corps, the Israel High Court of Justice ruled on Monday. Although women had been able to serve in tank crews, they could previously do so only as part of the all-female tank company within the IDF’s Border Defense Corps, in the Caracal mixed-gender light infantry battalion operating along the Egyptian border.

Following the new court ruling, the IDF will implement a pilot program for female tank crews in the regular service by November—one that the service had previously seen as impractical, and one that had been repeatedly delayed due to the war in Gaza from October 2023 onward.

“The IDF has a legal obligation to uphold, to the extent possible, equal opportunities between men and women in assignments to combat roles,” the court ruling read, according to The Times of Israel. It proclaimed that the Armored Corps trial for women was legally required to take place by this coming November.

Female Tank Crews Part of a Long-Running Israeli Legal Battle

The case was first filed in 2020, when female candidates and service members sought equal access to serve in elite units within the IDF, notably in infantry and maneuvering armor units.

Military service is mandatory in Israel for most Jewish, Druze, and Circassian citizens over the age of 18—with exemptions for Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men studying in yeshivas, married individuals, religious women, and those deemed unfit for health reasons. Men typically serve in the IDF for 30 to 32 months, and women serve for at least 24 months. Following their service, IDF soldiers return to civilian life—but are effectively kept in the IDF’s reserves until requirement, meaning that nearly the entire country can be called to its defense at any time. This structure has saved Israel from destruction during the repeated wars of its early years, and was once again activated after the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023.

Women make up approximately 33 to 44 percent of all soldiers in the IDF, but also 51 percent of its officers. However, women make up just over 20 percent of frontline combat forces. Moreover, 92 percent of all IDF units have had positions open to women, including in air defense, the navy, and light infantry roles.

The integration of women in the armored units dates back to 2017. During the October 7 attacks, an all-female tank crew made history, engaging Hamas forces for more than 17 hours in defense of communities near Gaza.

However, rather than confirming the role women could play in tank crews, the conflict sidelined the pilot program. That led to the lawsuit, eventually resulting in the high court’s ruling.

The court was unanimous in ruling on principle, as Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, with Justices Dafna Barak-Erez and Ruth Ronen, agreed that the “governing statutes establish equality as the starting point for military service,” The Jerusalem Post reported.

However, the High Court of Justice was split on its view of the pilot program, suggesting it was only a temporary measure rather than a permanent substitute for equality within the IDF.

Israel Punches Way Above Its Weight in Armored Warfare

Despite its small stature—Israel is roughly the size and population of New Jersey—the IDF punches far above its weight in military affairs. Over decades of repeated wars with its much stronger Arab neighbors, a core part of IDF doctrine has been the preservation of its soldiers’ lives at all costs. This has influenced its decision to invest heavily in tanks and other armored vehicles, from which Israeli soldiers can fight with better protection than infantry.

Israel is reported to have approximately 2,200 tanks, with around 1,760 combat-ready, and the IDF maintains the largest and most modern armored force in the Middle East. Its fleet consists primarily of the Merkava main battle tank (MBT), with the Merkava Mark IV and the Merkava 5 (Barak) as the primary front-line MBTs and the older Merkava Mark II and Mark III models serving in reserve and training roles.

The IDF’s Armored Corps remains the Middle Eastern nation’s main maneuvering, decisive force. It was established in 1948 and now operates under the Commander of the Israeli Ground Forces (GOC Army Headquarters) to spearhead attacks, break enemy lines, and provide fire support to infantry units.

The unit has played a central and decisive role in every major conflict in Israel’s history. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

The post Female IDF Soldiers Can Join Tank Crews, Israeli High Court Rules appeared first on The National Interest.