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Caracal Battalion
Soldiers from the mixed-gender Lions of the Jordan Valley Battalion take part in an exercise in the Tze'elim army base on February 5, 2018. (Judah Ari Gross/Times of Israel)
March 11, 2018, 1:19 pm
Arguments rage over IDF’s inclusion of women, but co-ed ‘Lions’ have a job to do
Politicians, rabbis question army's PR strategy of touting female soldiers; for those women and the men who serve with them, however, the opinions are irrelevant
By Judah Ari Gross and Video by Luke Tress
Israel's 13 first female tank operators, who completed their training on December 5, 2017, pose for a photograph at the Armored Corps' monument in Latrun, outside Jerusalem. (Israel Defense Forces)
December 5, 2017, 9:28 pm
Israel’s first female tank crews finish training, ready for deployment
Head of Armored Corps' training praises 13 recruits for completing grueling training as part of contentious pilot program
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative. A female tank instructor peeks out of her vehicle during an exercise on May 4, 2012. (Israel Defense Forces/Flickr)
November 27, 2017, 6:53 pm
Israel’s first female tank crews set for deployment as critics fire fresh volley
Pilot program, and women combat soldiers in general, meet stiff criticism, with dozens of reservist officers calling for an end to co-ed army service
By Judah Ari Gross
A Palestinian walks on a newly-made section of a road that was financed by the European Union, on the outskirts of the West Bank village of Taqoa, near Bethlehem, January. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
November 16, 2017, 9:38 am
Paving the way, but where?
A ruling allowing the state to take private Palestinian land for roads is either a milestone or a harbinger of things to come, and papers look at what jobs are open to whom
By Joshua Davidovich
Lt. Col. Elad Cohen, the former commander of the mixed-gender Caracal Battaltion, who was dismissed from his position amid allegations of an illicit relationship with a subordinate. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
July 12, 2017, 12:11 pm
IDF dismisses head of co-ed IDF unit for suspected relationship with subordinate
Lt. Col. Elad Cohen had already been suspended from his post for 30 days as military police investigate alleged illicit relations
By Judah Ari Gross
File: Soldiers of the Caracal Battalion prepare for a hike as part of their training on September 3, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
July 11, 2017, 12:01 pm
Commander of co-ed IDF unit suspended for suspected relationship with subordinate
Lt. Col. Elad Cohen removed from his post for 30 days as military police investigate alleged illicit relations
By Stuart Winer
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein teaching a lesson in 2013. (Screen capture: YouTube)
May 3, 2017, 4:27 pm
Pre-army yeshiva head who denigrated women goes on leave
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, filmed saying military service drives female soldiers 'crazy,' asks students not to contact him
By TOI staff
Illustrative: Male and female combat soldiers of the Caracal Battalion train to fight an Islamic State assault on southern Israel in late March 2017. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
April 2, 2017, 1:53 pm
IDF drills for possible Islamic State attacks across southern border on foot, in cars
In week-long exercise, infantry, tanks, helicopters train to thwart assault on Negev communties by Sinai-based terrorists
By Judah Ari Gross
Rabbi Eli Sadan speaks during a protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 21, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 17, 2017, 1:20 am
Israel Prize-winning rabbi rejects call to fire provocative colleague
Eli Sadan refuses to ‘cooperate with dictatorship‘ in having Yigal Levinstein fired for comments against women soldiers
By TOI staff
Illustrative: Female soldiers of the Caracal Battalion, November 2007. (Yoni Markovitzki/IDF Spokesperson/Flash90)
March 16, 2017, 10:41 am
Liberal Orthodox rabbis ban service in mixed combat units
Beit Hillel organization also signs plea for army chiefs to show sensitivity, not segregate religious soldiers into 'ghettos'
By TOI staff
Zionist Union party chair Isaac Herzog (C) leads a party meeting at the Knesset, November 30, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
March 8, 2017, 8:50 pm
Fresh scorn heaped on rabbi who derided female soldiers
Religious umbrella group says Yigal Levinstein's comments 'not our way'; opposition calls to defund his pre-military academy
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on March 8, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 8, 2017, 12:04 pm
Netanyahu hails female troops after uproar over rabbi’s derisive comments
In response to Yigal Levinstein's statement that girls serving in IDF is 'crazy,' prime minister says 'we are proud' of women soldiers
By Alexander Fulbright and Raphael Ahren
Soldiers of the Caracal Battalion prepare for a hike as part of their training on September 3, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
March 8, 2017, 8:52 am
Rabbi comes under fire after deriding ‘crazy’ female troops
Defense minister says he will reconsider position of Yigal Levinstein as head of pre-army academy; female general calls comments 'infuriating'
By TOI staff
Soldiers of the Caracal Battalion prepare for a hike as part of their training on September 3, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
February 16, 2017, 10:24 pm
Co-ed battalions to get new home in Border Defense Force
Mixed-gender units, trackers, surveillance monitors and combat intel come together to defend Jordanian, Egyptian borders
By Judah Ari Gross
File: The Caracal Battalion, which is made up of male and female combat soldiers fighting side by side, during a training session in November 2007. (Yoni Markovitzki/IDF Spokesperson/Flash90)
November 20, 2016, 6:21 am
Women increasingly join the fight in Israel’s army
In five short years, women's participation in combat roles will jump from 3% of female enlistees to 9.5%, but barriers remain
By Michael Blum
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