Foreign Minister Eli Cohen sits next to Prime Minister Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem in July. Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering creating a new role for Energy Minister Eli Cohen that would resemble the functions given to billionaire Elon Musk in the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, The Jerusalem Post reports.
The initiative comes amid a recent government reshuffle that disrupted the planned rotation in the Foreign Ministry. Under the original agreement reached during the formation of the coalition, Cohen was to lead the Foreign Ministry for two years, and from January 2024, he would hand over to Katz, with the prospect of returning in 2026, provided the election schedule is stable.
A deal gone wrong
However, the recent appointment of Gideon Sa’ar as foreign minister and the dismissal of Yoav Galant as defence minister brought about major changes. Katz, who was supposed to lead the Foreign Ministry, was appointed as the new Defence Minister. As a result, Saar will remain as Foreign Minister until the end of the government’s term, effectively destroying the rotation arrangement.
Cohen’s new “project”
To compensate for Cohen’s loss of his expected position, Netanyahu offered him a key role that could increase his influence in international and strategic matters. This role may be reminiscent of the status of Elon Musk, who in the new US administration became an advisor on technology and innovation, gaining considerable autonomy in decision-making.
Netanyahu’s plans underscore his desire to maintain a balance between key political players in the government, while creating conditions for strengthening Israel’s position in the international arena. What exactly Cohen’s new role will look like remains to be seen.
