Female fighters to protect ports
New unit to be tasked with securing Israel's seaports; force to be made of mostly female combatants
The ‘Ports Guard’ unit will use small Tzir'a (Hornet) vessels to intercept terror activities along Israel’s coast, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
“Today there is no answer to the need to secure ports. My intention is to integrate female soldiers in the new Cost Guard unit and I will be happy to see only female soldiers serving in the unit,” Major General Ben Ba’ashat said.
Ba’ashat added that unlike other navy units, the new unit does not require soldiers to sleep on board ships and therefore female soldiers are well suited for the position.
Ba’ashat spoke during the graduation ceremony of MBA graduates at the University of Haifa, where he graduated in the same discipline.
The new unit, Snapir (Fin), will start manning the ports of Haifa, Ashdod, and Eilat. The unit’s main task would be to foil attempts by terror elements to infiltrate Israel from the sea, using small boats or by swimming or diving.
Anti-terror training
The Tzir'a boats are designed for sailing in shallow waters and will be therefore be used to screen vessels approaching Israel's shores.
Each ship will have 4 to 6 female soldiers deployed on board at all times. Cadets will undergo diving courses and anti-terror training, the army said.
Major General Ba’ashat said the Navi will not just participate in Israel’s war against terrorism, but will also coordinate anti-terror cooperation with Mediterranean countries against international terror organizations.
He added that the Navy will be trained to assist in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes, saying the Navy recently participated in a rescue exercise with the Greek army.
