Caracal Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Caracal Battalion


caption=the cracal symbol
country=Israel
allegiance=
type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=2000-
specialization= 1) Infantry
command_structure= 512nd Division ("shagi spatial brigade"), Southern Command
size= 1 Battalion
garrison= MT. Herif, Israel
motto="The victori combination "
colors=Light green beret, Orange & bourdeaux Flag
battles=Al-Aqsa Intifadah; The withdrawal from Gaza; 2006 Israel-Lebanon War

The Caracal Battalion is an infantry combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces that is composed of male and female soldiers.
The battalion is named after the Caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same. [ [http://www.honoluluzoo.org/caracal.htm "Caracal" from the Honolulu Zoo] ]

Previously women had mostly been prevented from serving in direct combat positions, but due to growing public pressure, the Caracal unit was formed in 2000, and was assigned patrols along the Israel-Egyptian border.
The battalion took part in Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005.

References

#

[http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus%5Carchive%5C200401%5CFOR20040121c.html "Israeli Women Inspired to Join Combat Units" by Julie Stahl, "CNSNews.com"]
# [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3121078,00.html "The Evacuators" an interview with Pvt. Mori Makler, "Ynetnews.com"]