# Eli Cohen (politician, born 1972)

Eli (Eliahu) Cohen (Hebrew: אֵלִי כֹּהֵן; born 3 October 1972) is an Israeli politician serving as the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for the Likud party and a member of the Security Cabinet. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Economy and Industry, Minister of Intelligence, and Chair of the Reforms Committee. Cohen is a certified public accountant and has held senior positions in the private sector.

## Biography

Eli Cohen was born and raised in Holon. During his military service in the Israeli Air Force, he rose to the rank of Major. While serving, he pursued and completed a bachelor's degree in accounting at Tel Aviv University, another bachelor's degree with honors in management and economics at the Open University, and a master's degree in business administration with a specialization in finance and accounting at Tel Aviv University. Later, Cohen lectured at Tel Aviv University in the fields of management, finance, and accounting.
In 2000, after completing his military service, Cohen began working as a certified public accountant at BDO Ziv Haft, where he led the Economic Department within the Professional Division. In 2003, he joined the credit rating company S&P Maalot. By 2007, Cohen was appointed Vice President at Hevrat HaHachshara, and later promoted to Deputy CEO. In this role, he oversaw the daily operations of the group’s companies and served as a director across all subsidiaries.

### Political career

Cohen began his political activity in the Likud branch in Holon. In 2015, he was elected to the Knesset, and in July of that year, he was appointed to head a parliamentary committee tasked with handling specific legislation forwarded by the Knesset Committee. This committee became known as the "Reforms Committee." During his tenure, Cohen advanced the establishment of an independent Capital Market Authority and the Urban Renewal Authority. Additionally, the committee approved reforms aimed at increasing competition in the banking sector.
Cohen was recognized as one of the 100 most influential figures in the Israeli economy by TheMarker magazine. In 2016, 2018, and 2019, he was included in the annual list of influential figures by Maariv. In 2018 and 2024, he was once again featured in TheMarker's annual top 100 list.

#### Minister of Economy and Industry

On 23 January 2017, Cohen was appointed Minister of Economy and Industry. During his term, he promoted free trade agreements with several countries, including Canada, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands, the Virgin Islands, Malta, Nauru, Ukraine, Panama, and Liechtenstein. Under his leadership, Israeli exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time.
Cohen launched a program allocating NIS 400 million to promote innovation in Israel’s peripheral regions. He spearheaded reforms to dismantle the monopoly of the Standards Institute, simplifying regulatory processes. During his term, unemployment dropped to a historic low of 3.8%.
In February 2018, the Knesset approved a change to the Standards Law led by Cohen, adopting international standards without specific adaptations for Israel. In May 2019, Cohen signed an order easing the personal import of products such as dietary supplements, cosmetics, car parts, and transportation products.
In the 21st Knesset elections, Cohen was placed second on the Kulanu party list and was elected. Ahead of the 22nd Knesset elections, Kulanu merged with Likud. Cohen was placed 15th on the Likud list and was re-elected. He retained his seat in subsequent elections for the 23rd and 24th Knessets.
Member of the Security Cabinet
On 13 May 2019, Cohen was appointed as a member of the Security Cabinet, a position he held until 13 June 2021, when the government transitioned. He rejoined the Security Cabinet in the 37th government as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

#### Minister of Intelligence

On 17 May 2020, Cohen was appointed Minister of Intelligence as part of Israel’s 35th government. In this role, he worked to strengthen relations with African nations. In January 2021, he conducted an official visit to Sudan, marking the first visit by an Israeli minister to the country. During the visit, Cohen met with Sudanese leaders, including President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim, and other senior officials.
Cohen also initiated technological incubators in Israel's peripheral regions and launched a program to train young women for technological roles in elite units of the Israel Defense Forces and other security agencies.

#### Foreign minister

Upon the inauguration of Israel’s 37th government, Cohen was appointed Minister of foreign minister on behalf of the new Likud government, in rotation with Israel Katz. On 1 February 2023, he visited Sudan and met with its leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq. Later that year, he visited Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, becoming the first Israeli minister to visit since the outbreak of the war. He also visited India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the first Israeli ministerial visit to India in 19 years.
In February 2023 Cohen flew to Sudan and met with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, president of the Transitional Sovereign Council, to lay the groundwork for a peace agreement between Israel and Sudan. After the massive earthquake in Turkey in February, Cohen met with Turkish president Erdogan in Ankara and announced that Israeli airlines would resume direct flights to Turkey. In February Cohen acknowledged that after months of talks, Oman announced that Israeli airlines would be permitted to pass through its airspace. Cohen also confirmed that Papua New Guinea, which established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1978, would be opening its first embassy in Jerusalem in 2023.
In March 2023 Cohen met the UK foreign secretary in London to sign the 2030 Roadmap for Israel-UK Bilateral Relations which will increase cooperation in technology, research and development, security and cyber. In April 2023 Cohen inaugurated Israel’s first embassy in Turkmenistan. No Israeli foreign minister has visited this Muslim majority country since 1994. The newly built embassy is located in the capital city, Ashgabat, ten miles from Turkmenistan’s border with Iran. Later that month Cohen paid a three-day visit to Baku in Azerbaijan after his counterpart visited Jerusalem in March for the inauguration of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel, the first embassy of a Shia Muslim country in Israel. Cohen is the first Israeli minister to visit Ukraine and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the outbreak of the war.
In May 2023 he signed a customs agreement with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Israel to further the trade agreement signed in 2022. Cohen also flew to India with an 36-person economic delegation whose primary goal was promoting water management and agricultural projects. During his visit to Delhi Cohen held bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking officials. Visiting the Philippines in June 2023, Cohen met with President Marcos to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new opportunities created by the Abraham Accords and the opening of the Saudi-Oman corridor for flights from Israel, which significantly cuts flight times to and from East Asia.
In August 2023 Cohen revealed that he had attended a secret meeting in Rome with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush, organized by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to discuss normalizing relations between the two countries. The news triggered mass protests in Libya, leading to Mangoush's dismissal. Cohen was criticized in Israel for what was seen as a breach of diplomatic practice. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said the timing of Cohen's announcement had not been coordinated with Mangoush, catching her off-guard.
On 24 November 2023, during their visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticized Israel’s attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip. Cohen condemned the remarks by the two European leaders as "false statements" made "in support of terrorism" and said he had summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium to explain the comments. Cohen said on social media that "Israel is acting according to international law and fighting a murderous terrorist organisation worse than ISIS."
During the "Operation Iron Swords" conflict in October 2023, Cohen hosted about 20 foreign ministers and leaders who visited Israel in solidarity. He accompanied hostage families to advocate at the UN headquarters in New York, the EU in Brussels, and the Red Cross in Geneva.

#### Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

On January 1, 2024, Cohen was appointed Minister of Energy, following the Knesset's approval of a power-sharing agreement with Israel Katz between the Energy Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In July 2024, he launched a reform allowing private electricity suppliers to compete with the national electric company, reducing electricity bills by 7%-20%. Within six months, one million Israelis joined the reform.
Cohen announced the decommissioning of the Reading Power Station in Tel Aviv in January 2024, with the site repurposed for green energy projects. In February, he approved a NIS 40 billion energy investment plan. Later that year, he blocked a proposed 8% water rate increase, limiting it to only 1.6%.
In August 2024, Cohen approved new regulations requiring solar energy systems in all new non-residential buildings and single-family homes. That same month, he finalized reforms easing the import of electrical products from Europe.

### Personal life

Cohen is married to Anat, a primary school teacher. Together, they have one son and three daughters and reside in Holon.