However, this changed when Alice Miller, an immigrant from South Africa, successfully appealed to the Israeli High Court in 1994 for an opportunity to become an air-force pilot. While she was unable to pass the entrance exam, her efforts paved the way for many combat units to open their doors to women.
Today a 90 % of all military positions are available to women in the IDF. Karakal is a unisex combat unit which operates along the southern border of Israel. The elite dog unit, Oketz, is open to women, as well as various artillery and armored divisions. In 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, women were involved in field operations alongside men for the first time since the 1948 War of Independence.
This album celebrates the many ways in which women contribute to the IDF, and attempts to capture the bravery and pride that these women share in serving for Israel. Whether they are instructing soldiers on how to shoot or operating in the field themselves, these women are an integral part of the Israel Defense Forces.
Click on an image to enlarge...
