Eli Cohen (politician born 1972)


Eli Cohen is an Israeli accountant and politician. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud and as Minister of Intelligence. He previously held the post of Minister of the Economy and Industry and was a member of the Security Cabinet of Israel.

Biography

Cohen was born and raised in the Tel Giborim neighbourhood in Holon. After his IDF national service as a Major in the Israeli air force, he studied at Tel Aviv University, gaining a BA in Accounting and an MBA, majoring in Financing and Accounting. He also obtained a bachelor's degree in Management and economics from the Open University of Israel. He went on to work as an accountant, and lectures at Tel Aviv University.
In 2000 he began to work at the BDO Ziv Haft Accountants’ firm as Head of the Economic Division. In 2003 he joined the credit rating company Maalot S&P and headed the Corporations Division. In 2007 he was appointed Senior Vice President of the Israel Land Development Company.
Prior to the 2015 elections he joined the new Kulanu party, and was placed eighth on its list. He was elected to the Knesset as the party won ten seats. After being elected, he was appointed Chairman of the Reforms Committee, as well as joining the Finance Committee and the Joint Committee for the Defense Budget. On 23 January 2017 he took over from Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon as Minister of the Economy.
Cohen was placed second on the Kulanu list for the April 2019 elections, and was re-elected despite the party being reduced to four seats. He was re-elected on the Likud list in September 2019 and March 2020. In May 2020 he was appointed Minister of Intelligence in the new government.
Cohen is married, has four children and lives in Holon.