The Women of the Palmach

May 26,1948—exactly 75 years ago—the Israel Defense Forces was established. 

David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, was appointed and immediately began giving directives. Not long after, Israel’s neighboring countries; Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia attacked, beginning what is today known as the Independence War.

Pictured: Iftach Brigade, The First Battalion 

The year was 1920, during the British mandate over Israel, when the Haganah—an independent national enlistment force—was created.

By May 15, 1941, the Haganah consisted of three main units: the Field Corps (the main ground force), the Guard Corps (the force responsible for protecting Jewish villages from Arab attacks) and the Palmach, an elite unit also known as ‘The Striking Force’. 

Without the soldiers of the Jewish paramilitary organizations (Haganah, LEHI, ETZEL, NILI), Israel and the IDF wouldn’t be where they are today.

Pictured: Iftach Brigade, The First Battalion 

Since its inception, women have enlisted into the military organizations in Israel, despite it not always being openly spoken about or socially accepted.

In the summer of 1944, the female members of the Palmach assembled to discuss and ultimately implement the ‘Hachsharot [training] Agreement’ . This agreement made it so that men and women fought side by side as equals and rapidly increased the numbers of female draftees. On the battlefield their main roles included operational-combat positions, reconnaissance positions, and or remote support jobs.

So in honor of 75 years, let's take a look back at a couple of the female pioneers in Israel’s military history…

Meet Yocheved Ben-Shmuel. 

Born in Iraq—Yocheved immigrated to Israel in 1936 with her family, at the age of 8.

In 1946, Yocheved drafted to the Palmach after having trained with the “Noar Haoved Vehalomed” Jewish youth movement, at Kibbutz Ein Gev. Upon the outbreak of the Independence War, she began a course to become a combat medic. During the Battle of Latrun in Operation Yoram, she aided soldiers at Military checkpoints in and around Jerusalem.

We salute Yocheved for her service and contribution to Israel’s history.

Meet Miryam Sherman.

Born in Argentina to Israeli parents, Miryam and her family immigrated back to Israel at age 5.

At the age of 16, she had moved out from her parents’ home and joined her fellow friends at Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon as a part of the Palmach enlistment training.

By 1945, Miriyam had been drafted into the Palmach’s Yiftach Brigade and participated in multiple battles. Later on, she joined the Harel Brigade and served as a convoy escort to Jerusalem.

Toward the end of 1949, Miriyam was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces, and was released in 1950.

We salute Miryam for her service and contribution to Israel.

From the start, Israeli women have understood the importance of serving their country, and had a long battle to be able to serve their homeland. Eventually though, they pushed themselves to the front lines. In order to honor 75 years of the Israel Defense Forces, we pay our respects to those who have paved the way for the women of the IDF today.

Photo Credit: IDF and Defense Establishment Archives, and Palmach Archives.