Eli Cohen, 2026 positions · Likud

Cohen told Yehuda Sharoni in an interview published by Walla on 11 April 2026 that he aspires to become finance minister.

Who they are

Eli Cohen is an accountant who has held four cabinet portfolios for Likud and is Israel’s energy minister.

Born in Holon in 1972, Cohen served in the air force and left as a major, taking a degree in accountancy and a master’s in business administration at Tel Aviv University. He spent his career in finance, as an accountant at BDO Ziv Haft, then at the credit rating agency S&P Maalot, and later as deputy chief executive of the property group Hachsharat Hayishuv.

He began in the Likud branch in Holon but first reached the Knesset for Kulanu, which merged into Likud in 2019. Chairing the Knesset reforms committee, he carried the laws creating an independent capital markets authority and opening the banking market to competition. He has since held the economy, intelligence, foreign and energy portfolios: he signed free trade agreements with Ukraine, Canada and Switzerland, made the first visit by an Israeli minister to Sudan, secured Israel’s entry to the American visa waiver programme, and launched the 2024 reform letting households buy electricity from a private supplier.

Police searched the foreign ministry in August 2024 over diplomatic passports issued to people not entitled to them, and completed the inquiry in June 2026 saying there were grounds to charge him with fraud and breach of trust. Cohen says the approvals predated his term. No charges have been filed.

Positions and record

Diplomacy: Supports expanding regional normalisation. In November 2024 he said he would choose West Bank annexation over a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Energy: Supports gas exports to Egypt, competition from private electricity suppliers and investment in electricity storage to lower household bills.

Gaza electricity: Ordered the Israel Electric Corporation to stop supplying Gaza on 9 March 2025, saying the measure would pressure Hamas to release hostages.

Cost of living: Supports cutting petrol excise duty, reducing state land prices and using electricity-company profits to lower tariffs and fund infrastructure.

Where they stand

Breaks with the party line on 2 issues, marked below.

Judea & Samariapersonal positionSaid in November 2024 that Israel should use Trump’s presidency to annex the West Bank, prioritising sovereignty over a Saudi peace agreement

Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation

Gaza & Securitypersonal positionSaid in July 2026 that Israeli control of Gaza would expand to 100 per cent; told Kipa in August 2025 he opposed rebuilding its infrastructure even after Hamas leaves power

Deal & disengagementFull military control

Haredi Enlistmentparty lineIt governs with the Haredi parties and in July 2026 barred the arrest of draft evaders, while its own aims require regular service of every citizen.

Universal draftPreserve exemptions

Judiciaryparty lineThe judicial selection law takes effect with the next Knesset, giving the coalition the decisive voice in appointments. No override clause is sought.

Court can strike lawsKnesset can override

Economyparty lineA national liberal movement for the free market and social equality together, with government out of the economy as far as it can go.

Social spendingFree market

Educationparty lineJewish tradition taught through the schools, and the core-studies rule kept on the books without ever being used to cut a budget.

State runs the schoolsParents and communities

Religion & Stateparty lineThe religious status quo, governed with its Haredi partners, alongside a guarantee of freedom of conscience.

Civil / pluralistReligious authority

Nation & Citizenshipparty lineThe Nation-State Law and Jewish self-determination, set beside equal rights for every citizen and the integration of minorities into the state.

Equal citizenshipJewish national state

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