Dramatic High Court Ruling: IDF Must Open Armored Corps to Women by November 2026
The High Court of Justice issues a landmark ruling mandating the IDF to provide equal opportunities for women in combat.
In a landmark decision, the High Court of Justice ruled on Monday that the IDF is legally obligated to maintain equal opportunities for men and women in combat role placements wherever possible.
The court, led by Justices Daphne Barak-Erez and Ruth Ronen, issued an absolute order requiring the military to open a trial program for women in the maneuvering Armored Corps no later than November 2026. While the court reached a consensus on the obligation for equal opportunity, Justice Noam Sohlberg remained in the minority regarding the specific timeline and directives of the order.
The ruling comes after several female recruits petitioned for the right to try out for and serve in elite units, infantry, and tanks.
The pilot program for women in the Armored Corps was originally scheduled to begin in late 2024. Due to the ongoing war, the IDF postponed the program twice, first to late 2025, and then again to late 2026.
Justices Barak-Erez and Ronen rejected the military’s justifications for further postponement, stating:
"It is no longer possible to settle for vague statements of this kind. This is a delay that has no measurable limit."
The court emphasized that the IDF's duty to provide equal opportunity is not merely a suggestion but a legal mandate. By setting a hard deadline for the maneuvering armor pilot, the High Court has effectively removed the military's ability to issue further rolling deferments under the guise of operational necessity.
The IDF is now required to prepare the logistical and operational framework to integrate female combatants into the armored divisions within the next 18 months.