MembersJerusalem’s Female Bomb Squad Specialist

Although it is a male dominated profession, she receives no special treatment.

“They treat me like I’m one of the guys,” says Major Sergeant Alex Pekerman. “The reactions in the field when I take off the helmet and they see a ponytail are very special.”

The current wave of terrorism in Jerusalem has the bomb squad on duty 24/7 in an extremely demanding and dangerous environment. Pekerman, 27, did not hesitate to join the team seven months ago when Palestinian assaults were happening almost every day.

“My father is an explosive disposal officer and I grew up in this system,” she explains. “I saw him doing the job, I knew the people, and somehow it always attracted me. After I finished my studies, I was looking for a job and somehow I got pulled into the field.”

Her first incident on the job was the stabbing of a policeman in downtown Jerusalem as he sat in a squad car. “We handle all the details, we...