IDF promises improvement after female paramedic allowed into Haredi brigade’s base

The IDF says it will do better next time after a woman was allowed into the strictly all-male army base for the Hasmonean Brigade, a unit for ultra-Orthodox soldiers.

The Yisrael Hayom daily reports that during a visit by President Isaac Herzog to the Haredi brigade’s training base in the Jordan Valley for Tisha B’av last week, a female volunteer medic with Magen David Adom joined the president.

In response to the report, the IDF says that “for the president’s visit to the Hasmonean Brigade, an MDA ambulance was brought in accordance with standard medical preparations. As part of these arrangements, a female paramedic was assigned to provide medical care if necessary.”

“In cases involving female professionals whose participation is essential, the manner of their participation is arranged in advance, with an emphasis on avoiding direct contact with the brigade’s soldiers,” the military says.

In line with the unit’s protocols on not allowing the soldiers to interact with women, the army says that “the female paramedic remained in a designated area and did not meet with the base’s soldiers during the visit.”

“In the future, this matter will be arranged in advance when necessary,” the army adds.