Entrepreneur David Portal issued a sharp public statement Wednesday attacking the IDF's approved pilot to integrate female combat soldiers into the Armored Corps, as reported by Israeli media. Portal stated that 'the military has one goal — to win. Women are unsuitable for these units, period.' His remarks add to a growing public debate over the pilot, which Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir approved earlier Wednesday with the condition that it maintain existing standards and rule out mixed-gender tank crews.
Entrepreneur David Portal issued a sharp public statement Wednesday afternoon attacking the IDF's approved pilot to integrate female combat soldiers into the Armored Corps. "The military has one goal — to win," Portal said. "Women are unsuitable for these units, period." His remarks were reported by journalist Boaz Golan.
Portal's statement is the latest in a wave of criticism from religious-Zionist figures and educators following Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir's decision earlier today. Zamir approved the pilot but stressed that professional standards must be maintained and ruled out mixed-gender tank crews — female soldiers would serve in dedicated frameworks of at least company strength if the pilot succeeds.
Earlier this afternoon, the religious-Zionist organization Torat Lechima accused the chief of staff of advancing radical feminism, while pre-army academy head Rabbi Eitan Shalev warned the pilot would exclude religious recruits. As The Zioneer reported Wednesday at 15:27, MK candidate Moran Zer Katzenstein also slammed reported changes to the women's tank track as 'total madness,' though from the opposite direction — arguing the move erodes women's roles.
The debate remains politically charged, with no indication the IDF will reverse course. The pilot's operational parameters and timeline have not been detailed.
- ConfirmedIDF chief details criteria for women-in-Armored Corps pilot, rules out mixed-gender tank crews
- DevelopingPre-army academy head says Armored Corps mixed pilot threatens religious soldiers
- DevelopingReligious-Zionist organization Torat Lechima accuses IDF chief of radical feminism, calls on government to block women in Armored Corps pilot
- DevelopingOpinion video argues IDF armored corps gender integration weakens professionalism
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