Female soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces were required to wear long pants during a five kilometer run at the Jerusalem Marathon on Friday, despite a heat wave, while male soldiers were allowed to wear shorts. The decision drew criticism after reports that the women were not given the same flexibility in dress during the high temperatures.

The mother of one soldier said the requirement reflected a broader reality in which female soldiers' rights are viewed as different, allegedly for reasons of modesty. Political leader Avigdor Liberman condemned the order, arguing that objections to women wearing shorts were themselves the problem and warning against religious coercion.

The Israel Defense Forces responded that there is no difference in the official dress code for male and female soldiers and said any discrimination in enforcement would be investigated. The incident comes amid renewed debate over the role of religious norms in the military, following recent disciplinary actions against female soldiers over clothing and the jailing of Border Police medics for violating Sabbath restrictions.