Throughout human history, women have been symbols of peace, compassion, emotions, and pacifism. Although feminists may challenge the accuracy of this statement, the direct presence of men and the indirect presence of women in most wars have led to men being labeled as symbols of violence and women as symbols of nurturing. Nevertheless, in the 21st century, the presence of women on the battlefront has become an important issue in the military strategies of world powers. The question of whether the world's armies can deploy female soldiers on the front lines has become a challenging issue for military commanders. Israel is one of the political regimes that, without any hesitation, employs women on the battlefield. Accordingly, the question of this article is as follows: What factor or factors have led some governments, such as the Israeli regime, to permit the use of women on the battlefield? The research hypothesis is that the necessity of regime survival and the shortage of military officers, if recruitment were limited to men only, have caused Israel to abandon gender policy in soldier recruitment and call both men and women to serve in the army. The findings of the present research indicate that security needs—such as the need for survival, lack of strategic depth, demographic challenges, and expansionist policies—have compelled this regime to disregard the social harms caused by the presence of women on the battlefield, overlook the notion of women's pacifism, and utilize all its military capacities, including female combat forces, in its wars.
Introduction
This study examines the participation of women in the Israeli military and the challenges arising from it. Contrary to traditional religious teachings that confined women to domestic and familial roles, Israel—since its establishment—has been compelled by security and demographic pressures to conscript women into military service. The central research question is why Israel, unlike many other states, has legitimized the deployment of women in combat roles. The main hypothesis suggests that the need for survival, demographic constraints, and Israel’s expansionist policies have led the state to integrate women into its armed forces.
Theoretical Framework
The research is grounded in feminist theory and scholarship on gender and war. Armies are conceptualized as male-dominated institutions that reproduce hegemonic masculinity. Feminist theorists argue that excluding women from military and political processes reinforces systemic inequalities. Concepts such as “militarized femininity” and “politicized femininity” are applied to analyze Israeli women’s military role. In addition, the study draws on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which legitimizes the participation of women in security structures and peace processes.
Methodology
The research employs a qualitative methodology, relying on the analysis of official documents, military laws, demographic statistics, and prior academic studies on women in the Israeli military. The sources include official Israeli reports, demographic data, and international scholarly literature on gender and security. The approach combines documentary analysis with theoretical perspectives to assess the evolving role of women in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
 Results & Discussion
Findings highlight four key factors driving the integration of women in the Israeli military:
1. Survival and Security Needs: Continuous threats from Hamas and Hezbollah have compelled Israel to mobilize its entire human capital, including women.
2. Lack of Strategic Depth: Israel’s limited geography necessitates preemptive and external wars, thereby requiring maximum utilization of both male and female soldiers.
3. Demographic Challenges: The low participation of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and Arab citizens in military service has forced the IDF to rely more heavily on women.
4. Expansionist Policies: Israel’s settlement policies and military presence in the West Bank and Gaza require sustained deployment, which has increased reliance on female soldiers.
Despite these developments, women in the IDF continue to face gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and limited access to high-ranking command positions. While women are increasingly present in combat units, the military hierarchy remains largely male-dominated.
Conclusions & Suggestions
The study concludes that women’s military participation in Israel is not primarily the result of feminist achievements or gender equality movements but rather a consequence of structural necessities tied to security, demography, and expansionist state policies. Israel has had to overlook traditional notions of femininity and pacifism to ensure its survival and pursue military objectives. Nevertheless, entrenched patriarchal structures within the IDF continue to obstruct women’s advancement to senior leadership positions. Thus, women’s presence in the Israeli military should be understood more as a product of strategic necessity than as a triumph of feminist struggle.