‘A People’s Army, Not a Court’s Army’

Rabbi Dror Arieh argues that the decision by hesder yeshivas to stop sending students to the Armored Corps stems from crossing a halachic and operational red line. In his view, integrating women into tanks harms crew cohesion, motivation, and the operational readiness of the Armored Corps.

The dramatic decision by the heads of several major hesder yeshivas to announce that they will stop sending their students to the Armored Corps is not just another political dispute, but a burning warning sign for Israel’s security. This is a painful but unavoidable step, he says, resulting from the crossing of a halachic and professional red line by the High Court, which is imposing a dangerous pilot program in the name of social agendas. Someone in the system must wake up, and fast.

Harm to operational effectiveness and military necessity

The army exists to win, not to create a false appearance of total equality in places where that is not appropriate. The attempt to force integration inside closed, cramped, and isolated spaces such as tanks causes both spiritual and practical damage to combat capability.

Preference for an agenda over quality personnel: the High Court, he says, prefers to push a small number of women into these roles, thereby consciously pushing hundreds of yeshiva soldiers, with peak motivation and proven fighting spirit, out of the corps.

Destruction of unit cohesion: the professional system of the Armored Corps relies on complete organic cohesion of the crew, which spends days and long weeks together inside the vehicle. Forcing such pilots tears apart this unique fabric.

The halachic line, no compromise on the sanctity of the camp

For religious Zionism and the world of Torah, observance of halacha and the sanctity of the camp are not a recommendation or a matter for negotiation.

Clear halachic ruling: the greatest rabbis and yeshiva heads from all shades and streams have unanimously determined that service in this mixed format is forbidden by halacha. All the yeshivas across the religious Zionist sector have drawn a red line, it is simply not possible for a religious soldier, and even for a non-religious soldier.

Broken agreement: the hesder framework was founded on the understanding that the IDF would allow Torah scholars to serve in a meaningful combat role while strictly preserving their halachic way of life. The breaking of this status quo forces the yeshiva heads to defend their students and find them alternative service options.

Silence from the leadership and blind obedience

The most troubling part of the incident is the paralysis of the command and government systems.

The political leadership remains silent: the prime minister and the defense minister stand aside and show weakness in the face of judicial tyranny that is directing the army’s force structure.

The military leadership complies: the chief of staff and IDF command are surrendering to immoral and unprofessional dictates coming from the court, instead of taking a firm professional stance making clear that the move harms operational readiness and unit cohesion. The chief of staff is obeying a patently immoral order.

Restore sovereignty to the IDF

We are a people’s army, not a court’s army. The attempt to “troll” the entire military system for the sake of imaginary equality slogans endangers victory on the battlefield. The veto imposed by the yeshiva heads is a wake-up call: the time has come to return sovereignty to the army, listen to real operational needs, and preserve the cohesion and spirit of the fighters who risk their lives for the homeland.