Retired Colonel Rabbi Ohad Tirosh Criticizes IDF Chief Over Mixed-Gender Service Order

Retired Colonel Rabbi Ohad Tirosh, head of the Yeshiva for Military Veterans, sharply criticized the Israel Defense Forces and its Chief of Staff regarding the mixed-gender service order. He accused the military of systematically writing the order but deliberately failing to implement it, including senior officers who signed it. Tirosh emphasized that the military camp should remain pure and free of mixed-gender units, stating, "The Chief of Staff announced that he does not believe a word of the mixed-gender service order."

Tirosh, who has been involved in this issue for 20 years, said the burden of proof lies with the Chief of Staff to show compliance, not with those opposing the policy. He also questioned the IDF spokesperson's credibility, claiming insiders know what happens within units and stressing that purity is fundamental to military effectiveness and morale. He argued that the mixing of genders is not a tactical issue but undermines the army's strength and cohesion.

The Forum of Women Warriors for the Sanctity of the Camp, part of the organization Hotam, echoed these concerns. They stated that many rabbis and educators, along with the public, no longer trust the IDF's official statements, citing ongoing severe mixed-gender integration that harms soldiers, operational standards, camp sanctity, and the IDF's resilience. They called on the Defense Minister and Prime Minister to remove the mixed-gender agenda and gender blurring from the IDF and to reinforce the camp's sanctity.