Journalist Dana Weiss accused rabbis opposing the integration of female soldiers into tank crews of being ‘lascivious’ and ‘putting women down.’ Broadcaster Yotam Zemer shot back: 'The rabbis are not lascivious — you are full of hatred.' The exchange on Channel 14 escalates a long-running public debate over gender integration in the IDF's Armored Corps.
This evening's live broadcast on Channel 14 saw the sharpest on-air escalation yet in the ongoing public debate over integrating female combat soldiers into the IDF's Armored Corps. Journalist Dana Weiss leveled a direct accusation against rabbinical figures who have publicly opposed the policy, calling them 'lascivious rabbis who are putting women down.' Broadcaster Yotam Zemer immediately retorted, 'The rabbis are not lascivious — you are full of hatred.'
The exchange follows a similar confrontation last hour between Weiss and broadcaster Yedidia Meir on the same channel, in which Weiss made the same accusation and Meir questioned whether she included hesder yeshiva heads who lost students in the war. The Zioneer reported on that earlier clash (22:28 Jerusalem).
The debate reflects deep divisions within Israel's religious-secular fault line over the IDF's 2024 decision to expand women's service into direct combat roles previously reserved for men. The Armored Corps began integrating female crew members in tank units in 2024, a move backed by the Military Advocate General but opposed by many religious-Zionist rabbis. As The Zioneer reported in earlier coverage, the policy has been a flashpoint in coalition politics as well.
2 developments
- DevelopingHesder yeshiva heads send letter to IDF chief opposing women in armored corps, report says
- DevelopingNaamat chair slams hesder yeshiva heads 'destroying IDF' with Armored Corps boycott
- DevelopingOpinion video argues IDF armored corps gender integration weakens professionalism
- DevelopingFormer artillery chief: hesder yeshiva departures harmed Armored Corps and reserves
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