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

Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.

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)
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)

The commander of the mixed-gender Caracal Battalion was dismissed from his position on Wednesday amid allegations that he had an illicit, but consensual, relationship with a subordinate officer.

On Tuesday, head of the IDF Southern Command Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir suspended Lt. Col. Elad Cohen. The next day, the general fully relieved the Caracal commander of his duties, the army said.

Cohen is being investigated by Military Police on the suspicion that he had a sexual relationship with at least one subordinate officer, which is forbidden in the IDF.

He was due to leave his position in the coming weeks, regardless of the investigation. Military sources said it was not a factor in his suspension.

The lieutenant colonel is expected to be replaced in his position within the next few days.

Cohen had been commander of the co-ed battalion since 2015. The unit, which was formed in 2004, has been guarding the border with Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula since 2007.

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)
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)

In 2015, a second mixed-gender battalion, the Lions of the Jordan, took up positions along the Jordan Valley. A third co-ed battalion, known as Cheetah, or Bardelas, was created in 2015 and guards the borders of the Arava Desert in southern Israel.

A fourth mixed-gender battalion, the Lions of the Valley, was formed earlier this year and has yet to be fully deployed.

The mixed-gender units are approximately 65 percent female and 35 percent male.

Stuart Winer contributed to this report.

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