JERUSALEM, Feb. 11 (JTA) — The Israeli army has decided to let female soldiers serving as doctors enter combat areas. The soldiers will now be able to take part in missions such as treating wounded soldiers in the southern Lebanon security zone, according to the Israeli daily Ha’aretz. The report said the decision was taken after deliberations between the air force and the Israel Defense Force personnel branch. Until now, female soldiers were granted permission to go behind enemy lines only on a case-by-case basis. “It’s a totally natural development,” Israel’s surgeon general, Ariel Dan, told Israel Radio. While female doctors would be permitted in principle to take part in such military missions, the report said that it would still be up to the squadron commander to decide whether or not to assign one to such an operation. The decision was taken about a month ago following lengthy deliberations. Questions were raised at that time regarding whether the decision would lead to renewed discussion on whether women should be assigned to combat field positions in elite units. Last year, the air force opened its pilots’ training course to women, following a ruling by the High Court of Justice. The commander of Israel’s air force, Maj. Gen. Eitan Ben-Eliahu, who supported the move, said last June that when the first female cadet passes the pilot’s course, he will make sure that they are also assigned to missions behind enemy lines.
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