Current sectionIsrael NewsIsrael Political NewsSmotrich said the IDF chief of staff 'needs to decide whether he will undermine security and the army's goals for the sake of a progressive lunacy,' adding that if the IDF doesn't want ultra-Orthodox recruits, 'then say so, and we'll go study Torah'Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeNoa Shpigel12:10 AM • June 23 2026 IDTFinance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Monday that integrating women into the Israeli military's combat units lowers their operational readiness.Loading...Click the alert icon to follow topics:IDFWomen's rightsBezalel SmotrichIsrael Supreme CourtEyal ZamirCommentsLoading...In the NewsIn the News: Israel-Iran Live UpdatesIranKeir StarmerLebanon EisenkotEbola in IsraelAlan GreespanHaQuizHaaretz PodcastSmotrich: Women Lower the Standard and Operational Readiness of IDF Combat UnitsSyrian President Says He Won't Deploy Military in Lebanon, in Trump RebukeLikud MK Breaks Ranks in Clash With Netanyahu Over Bid to Cancel Party PrimaryReport: Three Killed Including Suspect in Montreal Jewish Neighborhood ShootingNetanyahu's New Mossad Head Orders New Probe Into Agency's October 7 War ConductRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIIsrael Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing in the West BankWhere Does Andy Burnham Stand on Israel and Palestine?Netanyahu's Mouthpieces Turn on Trump, Revealing a Deeper Israeli IngratitudeIsrael Is Bleeding Support in U.S. and Pouring Tens of Millions to Change ThatReport: Netanyahu 'Likely' to Sabotage Iran Deal, U.S. Officials Tell TrumpTrump's Iran Deal Castrates Netanyahu, but It's Still Catastrophic for Israel