IDF officer suspended on suspicion of affair with subordinate

Military has not identified the lieutenant colonel suspected of having a consensual relationship with female major.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
Updated: JULY 3, 2018 07:06
Illustrative photo of handcuffs (photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
Illustrative photo of handcuffs
(photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
An IDF lieutenant-colonel was suspended for 14 days after being questioned by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division over suspicions he had a consensual relationship with a subordinate.
The lieutenant colonel, a battalion commander, is under investigation for having the long-term relationship with a female officer under his command who holds the rank of major.
While the officer told investigators during his interrogation that the relationship involved full consent, it violates military policy which forbids relationships between a superior officer and a subordinate.
The IDF has not published the identity of the officer.
Last year, the commander of the IDF’s first mixed-gender Caracal Battalion was dismissed following similar allegations that he was engaged in such a consensual relationship with a subordinate officer.
And in 2016, ex-IDF commander Brig.-Gen. Ofek Buchris resigned from the military after being charged with rape and other sexual offenses of subordinates in a highly criticized plea deal which saw him admit to charges of 16 counts of sexual assault which included three rapes.
Buchris, who was demoted to the rank of colonel without having to serve any jail time, was the highest ranking IDF officer to face such allegations.
According to an internal military survey conducted by the Chief of Staff’s Gender Adviser who sent thousands of female soldiers and officers anonymous questionnaires, one in six female soldiers has reported being sexually harassed during her service.
The survey, which was released last year, asked questions regarding cases of sexual harassment in the IDF as well as awareness, reporting culture and treatment provided to victims.
The vast majority of the female soldiers who took part in the survey said that they had been harassed more than once during their service, with 6% saying it had happened two or three times and another 3% responding that they had been harassed four times or more.