New opportunities for women; will soon serve in special combat units
IDF Spokesperson 15 December 2002

Brig. General Suzy Yogev, Advisor on Women's Affairs to the IDF Chief of the
General Staff, said in an interview with the IDF website that from the
beginning of 2003, women will be placed in special combat units.

"Women are capable of fulfilling any occupation the IDF has to offer," she
said.

The breakthrough for women in the IDF began in 1996, when pilot's course,
anti-aircraft units and the Border Patrol opened its gates for women to
serve.

"Nowadays, women have greater opportunities to succeed," she said. "There is
higher motivation among women to volunteer for combat units."

Men and women will serve the same amount of time in the IDF

"The IDF must adopt a professional and equal attitude toward women based on
qualifications and not gender," said Brig. General Yogev.

She added that it is the IDF's responsibility to identify the potential of
its soldiers and to put capable females in the appropriate positions. The
IDF must determine its personnel needs, and place people accordingly.

The inclusion of women in combat units has rapidly increased. Beginning in
2003, female soldiers will have more options when joining the Artillery
Corps, such as serving in the artillery special forces. They will take a
larger role in the battlefield of the future.

"Women can handle any job or position, even in the infantry brigades, and
all combat units will eventually be open to women," she said.

The end of the Women's Corps

The IDF's constantly pays attention to the issues women's' service, and it
can become a problem in and of itself.

"Because the IDF is the first army to implement a mandatory draft for women,
we are required to establish a body dedicated to women's service and shaping
its policy."

The office of the Advisor on Women's Affairs to the IDF Chief of the General
Staff replaced the Women's Corps 2000. It has taken responsibility for the
services the corps previously provided.

"The women's corps should have been abolished a long time ago -as soon as
people understood that women should not be limited because of gender," she
said. Instead they should be selected for positions based on ability."

Women in IDF senior ranks

Three and a half years into the job, Brig. General Yogev says she would be
happy to see the IDF give women the same opportunities as men.

"As soon as all of this is realized, then their will no longer be a need for
the role that I am filling," she said.

In September 2003, Col. Deborah Chassid, currently Head of the IDF Induction
Center, is slated to replace Yogev.

In addition, there are currently three women holding the rank of Brig.
General in the IDF, which is a significant accomplishment. Yogev emphasized
the importance of women in senior positions in the IDF as proof of the
willingness of the female fighters to reach new heights.

Women in the IDF- the website

In 2003, Brig. General Yogev's office will post a website that will be open
to the public. The website will provide information for women called up for
service, enlistment and basic training. In addition, it will provide
information about the officer's courses, a military career for women, and
information for the commanders about dealing with various problems. The
website will be open to everyone.