Ultra-Orthodox Soldiers Deny Entry to Female Officer at Mount Hermon Base
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Ultra-Orthodox soldiers at the Mount Hermon outpost refused entry to a female logistics officer, citing her gender, despite IDF regulations allowing professional access. The IDF acknowledged the incident as a "failure" and stated her entry should have been permitted. The refusal sparked criticism from women's rights advocates who warned of increasing segregation. In a similar past incident, soldiers who refused to serve with a female paramedic were jailed.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox soldiers at Mount Hermon refused entry to a female officer due to her gender.
- The IDF acknowledged the incident as a "failure" and stated her entry was necessary.
- The soldiers belong to the Hasmonean Brigade, established in June 2025.
- The refusal occurred while the officer was overseeing repairs to vital fuel tanks.
- Critics warned the incident signals dangerous segregation and could deter women from military service.
- In a prior case, soldiers refusing to serve with a female paramedic were jailed.
Ultra-Orthodox soldiers at the Mount Hermon outpost refused entry to a female logistics officer on Tuesday, citing her gender. The soldiers, part of the Hasmonean Brigade, prevented the officer from entering the outpost, even areas outside the living quarters where fuel tanks are located. These tanks are crucial for providing electricity and hot water to hundreds of soldiers during the winter. The officer had arrived with contractors from the Ministry of Defense, whose entry was immediately approved.
According to IDF directives on integrating the ultra-Orthodox, there should be no blanket prohibition on professionals, male or female, from other units entering bases to perform their duties, especially when there is a clear professional need. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit acknowledged the incident as a "failure," stating that the officer's entry should have been permitted under the appropriate conditions. While the unit noted that all soldiers in the Hasmonean Brigade are observant Jews, they confirmed that the refusal was an error and that her entry was necessary for her role.
Moran Zer Katsenstein, founder of the organization 'Bonot Alternativa,' criticized the incident, calling it an "extremist act that harms security." She warned that such actions, if not stopped, could lead to further segregation in public spaces. Zer Katsenstein argued that a female officer performing her duty is not a threat and that the "extremists are testing boundaries." She expressed concern that if this trend continues, women might cease to serve in the military within four years.
The Hasmonean Brigade was established in June 2025. The IDF stated that preparations for its opening included extensive vetting of staff, policy adjustments, and modifications to the training base to accommodate an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle.
In a separate incident in August, 17 soldiers from the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade were court-martialed and sent to military prison for refusing to board an armored personnel carrier with a female paramedic during a mission in the Gaza Strip. Five soldiers who led the refusal received 10-day sentences, and eleven others received 5-day sentences. The operation was canceled due to the refusal.
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