Smotrich rejects mixed-gender service in army as soldiers’ mothers call for his dismissal

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he opposes men and women serving together in the army. His remarks were condemned by the group Awake Mother, which represents mothers of female soldiers, who described the remarks as “dangerous” and demanded for him to be removed from office at once.

The remarks were made on Monday during a meeting of the parliamentary group of the Religious Zionism party, led by Smotrich, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

During the meeting, Smotrich said: “I will make an effort to educate my daughter not to enlist in the army, because the Chief Rabbinate opposes it.”

He added: “This is a world of values that is thousands of years old. I hope the great liberals will respect it. I respect anyone who thinks differently from me.”

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Smotrich continued: “I have my own position – for religious, faith-based and professional reasons – regarding the impact of mixed-gender service, and so on. I know there are those who disagree with me. Everyone should do what they think is right for them.”

He said he believes that “mixed units are bad for professional reasons – they create a poor atmosphere and harm the professionalism of the Israeli army. In my view, there is no debate about that.”

He also described placing female soldiers inside tanks with men as “unreasonable”.

He went on to say: “This is my position, but I do not tell people what to do. I think having women in combat roles in the army is not right – but if others think differently, that is fine, as the army allows it.”

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