An Uzi -armed Israeli on guard duty in the Negev IDF women soldiers between and Apart from the Arab-Israeli War , when manpower shortages saw many Palmach and IDF women taking active part in land battles, women were historically barred from battle in the IDF, serving in a variety of technical and administrative support roles. Soon after the establishment of the IDF, the removal of all women from front-line positions was decreed. Decisive for this decision was the very real possibility of falling into enemy hands as prisoners of war. It was fair and equitable to demand from women equal sacrifice and risk, it was argued, but the risk for women prisoners of rape and sexual molestation was infinitely greater than the same risk for men. The rest served primarily as instructors, nurses, clerks and telephone operators.
The rule about bra-wearing appears the most extreme. Female soldiers have reported they are forbidden from taking their bras off even when they are preparing to go to bed. Israel votes to ban critics of state and military from entering schools https: A female training instructor was reportedly removed from her role after religious-Zionist commanders said they were uncomfortable with her presence. They simply skip the exercise. The religious officers complained about female officers smoking near them, even though they had already been given their own smoking area.