Formal ceremonies required for Israeli religious soldiers

By JTA (Jerusalem)

article created on: 2012-01-01T00:00:00

Orthodox Israeli soldiers must attend formal military gatherings at which women sing, but can be excused from informal social gatherings, the head of the military said.

Israel Defense Forces Benny Gantz said that female soldiers have equality in the military and that there is no ban on women’s singing in the IDF. He made the statements during an interview on Army Radio.

Religious cadets walked out of an official ceremony earlier this year at which female soldiers sang.