Odelia Kedmi calls for transparency, accountability, and real equality in combat and civilian defense.
Odelia Kedmi, former IDF commander and former deputy mayor of Zichron Yaakov, spoke to Arutz Sheva–Israel National News about her experiences in combat service, gender integration, and her campaign to expand women’s access to firearm licensing.
Kedmi, who served in a combat unit two decades ago, said her perspective is rooted in firsthand experience. She expressed strong belief in women’s capabilities but argued that during her service she encountered lowered expectations that undermined genuine equality. According to her, adjustments were sometimes made in training scenarios that would never have been offered to male soldiers, creating structural inconsistencies rather than true parity.
She described physically demanding exercises where female soldiers struggled under full combat load, prompting commanders to modify conditions. While she acknowledged the motivation to integrate women into combat roles, she warned that transparency regarding injury rates and attrition levels remains insufficient. In her view, meaningful debate requires full disclosure of operational data.
Kedmi also addressed broader integration challenges within the IDF, including the impact of mixed-gender service environments and the inclusion of additional demographic groups. She stressed that operational readiness must remain the primary standard guiding policy decisions, particularly in sensitive field deployments where distractions could compromise mission focus.
Her criticism, she emphasized, is not directed at women soldiers themselves. On the contrary, she praised their dedication and courage, including the female personnel who demonstrated heroism during the October 7 attacks. Her concern centers on institutional structures that, in her assessment, sometimes apply uneven standards rather than enforcing identical performance benchmarks.
Beyond military service, Kedmi has been active in expanding firearm licensing access for women in Israel. She noted that prior to October 7 approximately 3,000 women held gun licenses, a number that has since risen dramatically to nearly 30,000. She views armed self-defense as a form of empowerment, arguing that the ability to protect oneself enhances both security and confidence.
Kedmi believes the events of October 7 exposed systemic vulnerabilities and created an opportunity for reform. She called on the public to press policymakers to ensure that women serving in both military and civilian roles receive proper preparation, realistic standards, and adequate protection.
Concluding her remarks, Kedmi reiterated admiration for female soldiers while expressing concern for their safety. Her objective, she said, is to ensure that women are neither symbolically integrated nor politically instrumentalized, but fully prepared, equally evaluated, and genuinely safeguarded within Israel’s security framework.
