Hesder Yeshiva Leaders Decide Not to Escalate Dispute With the IDF

Despite mounting tension with the Israel Defense Forces over mixed-service units, Hesder yeshiva leaders decided on Thursday not to intensify their fight. As a result, Hesder students will continue enlisting in the Armored Corps in the upcoming August draft cycle.

The decision came after nearly 50 yeshiva heads met in a special assembly focused on the crisis over integrating women into combat units and claims that the IDF had violated the “joint service order.” During the discussions, the leaders warned against expanding mixed-service tracks, saying they push observant soldiers out of parts of the army. The main concern was a pilot program to place women in maneuvering armored units, which the Hesder Yeshivot Association said could further reduce service options for soldiers seeking to keep a halachic lifestyle in the military.

The leaders said they reached their decision after meeting this week with the IDF chief of staff and senior officers. According to them, the army presented principles and solutions intended to allow every religiously observant soldier to serve in line with faith and values. They also said the chief of staff praised the contribution of Hesder and preparatory academy students to the IDF, reaffirmed commitment to the idea of a “people’s army,” and said there is no place for excluding observant soldiers from different units.

Even so, the association stressed that the struggle is not over. The yeshiva heads said they will keep monitoring how the understandings with the IDF are implemented and will insist that religious soldiers be able to serve according to halacha. They ended the meeting by calling not to divide the army, to let every soldier serve according to belief, and to enforce the joint service order strictly.