Meir Cohen (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Meir Cohen

|image = ראש עיריית דימונה מאיר כהן.jpg

|caption = Cohen in 2012

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|15|df=y}}

|birth_place = Essaouira, Morocco

|death_date =

|death_place =

|office1 = Ministerial roles

|suboffice1 = Minister of Social Affairs and Social Services

|subterm1 = 2013–2014

|suboffice2 = Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs

|subterm2 = 2021–2022

|office3 = Faction represented in the Knesset

|suboffice3 = Yesh Atid

|subterm3 = 2013–2019

|suboffice4 = Blue and White

|subterm4 = 2019–2020

|suboffice5 = Yesh Atid

|subterm5 = 2020–

}}

Meir Cohen ({{langx|he|מֵאִיר כֹּהֵן}}; born 15 November 1955){{Cite web |title=Knesset Member Meir Cohen |url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/mk/apps/mk/mk-personal-details/874 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=Knessetl}} is an Israeli politician. A former mayor of Dimona,[http://www.timesofisrael.com/yair-lapids-sends-a-diverse-quality-slate-to-knesset/ All the kingmaker’s men, and women] Times of Israel, 23 January 2013 and former Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs. Cohen is currently a member of the Knesset for Yesh Atid. He previously held the position from 2013–2014.

Biography

Born in Essaouira in Morocco, Cohen's family immigrated in 1962 when he was seven. After initially settling in Yeruham, they moved to Dimona and were one of its founding families.[http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/93251/in-the-reactors-shadow In the Reactor’s Shadow] Tablet, 7 March 2012 He studied at the Lehman school in Dimona. In 1973, Cohen was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces, joined the Paratroopers Brigade, and fought in the Yom Kippur War. He attended Ben-Gurion University of the Negev where he gained a bachelor's degree in history. Cohen earned a master's degree in Jewish Studies after graduating from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem. He later worked as a headteacher in Dimona.[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4295420,00.html Lapid's party recruits Herzliya, Dimona mayors] Ynetnews 22 October 2013[http://www.ort.org/news-and-reports/world-ort-news/article/family-braves-rockets-to-open-world-orts-new-centre-of-excellence-in-dimona/ Family braves rockets to open World ORT's new centre of excellence in Dimona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628182521/http://www.ort.org/news-and-reports/world-ort-news/article/family-braves-rockets-to-open-world-orts-new-centre-of-excellence-in-dimona/ |date=2013-06-28 }} World ORT, 28 November 2013

He joined Yisrael Beiteinu and ran for mayor of Dimona in 2003, and was elected with 42% of the vote. He was elected for a second term in 2008, and was expected to win a third term in 2013. During his tenure numerous factories opened, the city's first mall was built, unemployment dropped, he built cultural and youth centers, and led the efforts to lower the price of water.{{cite web|url=http://en.yeshatid.org.il/team |title=The Team | Yesh Atid |access-date=February 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102043236/http://en.yeshatid.org.il/team |archive-date=January 2, 2013 }} In October 2012 he joined Yesh Atid after being courted by the party for several months.[http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/mayors-who-ran-for-knesset-didn-t-win-over-residents.premium-1.496517 Mayors who ran for Knesset didn’t win over residents] Haaretz, 27 January 2013

In addition to serving as mayor of Dimona, Cohen was also a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Agency.[http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Israel/YouthFutures/YFArea/Dimona/ Youth Futures in Dimona] Jewish Agency for Israel

In the lead-up to the 2013 Knesset elections Cohen was placed fourth on the list of the new Yesh Atid party, entering the Knesset as the party won 19 seats.[http://www.bechirot.gov.il/elections19/heb/list/List.aspx?ListId=102 Yesh Atid] Central Elections Committee He was appointed Minister of Welfare and Social Services, a post he held until resigning on 2 December 2014.[http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Netanyahu-fires-Livni-and-Lapid-will-call-for-dissolution-of-Knesset-soon-383462 Netanyahu: Israel must elect a new, bigger and more stable government] The Jerusalem Post, 2 December 2014 He was placed fourth on the party's list for the 2015 elections,[http://www.bechirot20.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=43&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text Yesh Atid list] Central Elections Committee and was re-elected as the party won 11 seats.

In the 2021 elections, Cohen was placed third on the list of the Yesh Atid party, which ran separately from Blue and White this time. Following the elections, a new government was established by the Yesh Atid and Yamina parties, and Cohen was reappointed as the Minister of Welfare and Social Services. He held the position until December 2022, when the next government was established by Likud and Yesh Atid returned to opposition.