realized something had changed. it was time to do something about it. reporter: panetta and the joint chiefs have been discussing this over a year, jon. jon: i guess israeli is really the only country in the world that requires women to serve in its military. how have they handled the issue of women in combat there? reporter: that s a good question. female lawmakers in parliament passed a equality amendment that stated the right of women to serve in any role in the idf is equal the right of men. women had to be physically suitable to combat but suitable was left to the discretion of military leaders on a case-by-case basis. traditionally women have not been in the elite combat units like the galani brigade. they have been paratroopers. recently men and women started serving in light infantry units. platoons that were a formal battalion in 2000. so some men and women are serving side by side in