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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
The Israeli military on Sunday cracked down on a group of female soldiers who posed for photos in underwear and combat gear and posted the images on Facebook.
The incident was the latest in a string of episodes involving young Israeli soldiers on social media that have drawn reprimand from the military.
Israeli news site Walla said the women were new recruits stationed on a base in southern Israel. One picture showed the soldiers removing their fatigue uniforms to expose their underwear and back sides. In another, five women posed in what appeared to be a barracks room, dressed only in helmets and a small amount of combat equipment. The faces of the soldiers were blurred in the photos.
While America has been preparing to let women into combat roles, Israel has been doing it for years, and it seems to be working. Most Jewish Israeli men and women are required to serve in the military, starting at age 18.
Let's take a look at some of the powerful women serving in the Israeli combat forces.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Female tank instructors of the School of Infantry Professions conduct a drill with their Nagmachon tanks and armed hummers
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female infantry soldier from the Caracal Battalion participates in a joint drill
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female infantry soldier from the Caracal Battalion participates in a joint drill
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female soldier poses with bullets during the IDF Infantry Instructors course, which includes individual and group drills, navigation practice, sleeping in the field and camouflage training.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Female soldiers take part in the IDF Infantry Instructors course
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
The combat soldiers of the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Unit train for a possible combat scenario in central Israel. This unit is comprised of both male and female combat soldiers.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Female soldiers of the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Unit train for a possible combat scenario in central Israel.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
These two soldiers are among the four who constitute the largest number of female soldiers ever to simultaneously graduate the Warrant Officers' Course for the Infantry Corps
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female tank instructor of the School of Infantry Professions during a drill
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female soldier takes part in Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Unit combat training
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A starting class of the Nachshol Reconnaissance Company is comprised of almost 40 female combat soldiers.
"It's an infantry unit like any other," said the former Company Commander, Captain Shirli Galez. "They have all the equipment required to conduct reconnaissance and observation operations in the field. This company proves that female soldiers can carry the weight of combat positions fully."
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Ah female soldier takes part in the IDF Infantry Instructors course. At the end of the course, female soldiers are placed in different positions, instructing IDF Ground Forces.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Combat soldiers from the Karakal and Magal units take part in the IDF-wide Combat Fitness Competition.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Six of the 20 nominees for the Miss Israel 2013 pageant were from the Israeli Defence Forces.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Female soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade and Combat Photographers Unit of the IDF.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female soldier takes a break during field exercises
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Cadets training to become Infantry Instructors prepare outside their tent in the Negev with their equipment for a "War Week"
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
IDF combat instructors take a break from training officers in Israel's Negev desert
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
Pictured here in the Mitkan Adam base, Brigadier General Gila Kalifi-Amir, the Women's Affairs Advisor to the IDF Chief of Staff, practices her marksmanship skills with the guidance of a Marksmanship Instructor during an event for IDF staff officers
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A diverse group of female infantry instructors take a break from their intensive course in southern Israel.
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Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A female soldier attends the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Company swearing-in ceremony.
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