I stand corrected! Nevertheless, my point remains the same -- even if IDF readiness has declined in recent years (grumble) I don't think there's much of anyone in Israel who blames gays for anything. They're as good soldiers as anyone else. One of the consequences of universal military service is that you'll always have some people in uniform who you don't necessarily like or approve of -- but as long as they serve well, who cares?
Alter Kaker wrote: "They're as good soldiers as anyone else."
No doubt! But that's not the point. The ban isn't about individual soldiers and whether they can serve honorably or not. It's about military cohesion, discipline, battlefield effectiveness, and fitness.
The truth is, many gays serve honorably even now, and "Don't ask, don't tell" allows them to serve as long as they are discreet.
Military standards concerning sexual behavior apply to heterosexuals, too. For example, if you sleep with your fellow soldier's wife, you can be disciplined and/or separated. Anything, even acts not specifically defined in military law, can be punished if they impact military readiness. Isn't that, after all, what the military is about--not social justice?