CBNNews.com - Three hesder yeshiva (religiously observant) Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers refused to participate in a course taught by female soldiers.

A hesder yeshiva combines Torah (law) study with military service.

Though the course commanders assured the soldiers that the course complied with rabbinic stipulations for religious soldiers, they still refused to take part in the training.

Following the incident, the three were sentenced to 21 days in military prison.

Though their yeshiva backed their decision, the IDF said they'd "crossed the line."

"The IDF has given religious soldiers quite a bit of leeway, but this time we could not have created a precedent that could alter the status quo in the order of training," a senior IDF officer said.

"The IDF makes every effort to maintain the rules of proper integration in its bases. The class in question was a theoretical one, in accordance with these rules," said an IDF spokesperson.

Source: YNet news service