Incidents of women being the targets of hostility and exclusion in the IDF are a serious problem for commanders, and the IDF will address the issue systematically, head of the Personnel Directorate Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz said Thursday in a meeting with representatives of the Israel Women's Network.
The meeting took place following a rash of incidents in which female soldiers and officers were the target of hostility from religiously observant soldiers and commanders, some of whom object to men and women serving together in any capacity. The chief of staff's adviser on women's issues, Brig. Gen. Sharon Nir, also participated in the meeting.
The IWN said in a statement that it had presented Almoz and Nir with a report on the extent of hostility toward women in the IDF. Almoz said he was aware of the problem, and characterized it as systemic.
"We will not be satisfied with declarations and headlines, we'll address the issue fundamentally," Almoz said.
Asked about an incident this week, in which religious paratrooper recruits turned their backs on a female jump instructor for reasons of "modesty," Almoz said, "A more stringent response might have been needed."
