Israel: Eli Cohen, key in relations with Arab countries, appointed head of diplomacy
Eli Cohen (left), new Israeli Foreign Minister, during his visit to Sudan with Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim (right), in Khartoum, January 25, 2021. © ARYE SHALICAR / AFP
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Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu presented his new government on Thursday, December 29.
As head of the Foreign Ministry, he appointed former intelligence minister and Likud lawmaker Eli Cohen.
The latter had played a crucial role in the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
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On Thursday, December 29, the
new Israeli government
, the most right-wing in the country's history, was sworn in and put an end to 18 months of a motley coalition between left, right, center and Arab MPs.
Eli Cohen, who actively entered politics in 2015, is now foreign minister.
זכות להישבע אמונים כשר חוץ בממשלה ולייצג את מדינת ישראל.
תודה לקב"ה, לאמי שושנה שתבדל״א ואבי דוד ז״ל שגידלו אותי בענווה ובדרך ארץ, לרעייתי ענת - המשענת של חיי, ולילדיי האהובים דוד, שירה, נגה ועמנואל.
ולכם החברים היקרים, על התמיכה שהביאה אותי למעמד זה.
אפעל למען המדינה האהובה שלנו pic.twitter.com/VrZsyeCOOq
— אלי כהן |
Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) December 29, 2022
Already appointed in 2019 by Benyamin Netanyahu as Minister of Intelligence, Eli Cohen participated in the normalization of relations between his country and the Arab countries.
In 2020, Israel announced a concrete rapprochement with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, then with Sudan and Morocco, within the framework of the “Abraham Accords”.
In January 2021, Eli Cohen led the first official delegation led by an Israeli minister to Khartoum, capital of Sudan, to continue this momentum of normalization.
Today, Benyamin Netanyahu
seeks to extend
the "Abraham Accords" to Saudi Arabia.
According to the outgoing Prime Minister, Yaïr Lapid, the foundations allowing this rapprochement with Riyadh have already been laid, and this improvement in relations could therefore occur in the shorter term, according to him.
“
We have laid the foundation for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords.
The secret details will be transmitted to the new Prime Minister
,” Yaïr Lapid declared Thursday, December 29 in Parliament, without elaborating on these “
secret details
”.
"
If the new government continues on the path it has started, normalization with the Saudis could occur in the short term
," added the outgoing Prime Minister.
Widening the “
circle of peace
”
Among the four main missions of his new government, Benyamin Netanyahu has indeed referred to the enlargement of what he calls the “
circle of peace
”.
In terms of foreign policy, he also called for thwarting Iran's efforts to acquire a nuclear arsenal, announced his desire "
to ensure Israel's military superiority in the region
" and put the focus on its settlement expansion projects in the occupied West Bank.
This is partly why Yael German, Israel's ambassador to France, tendered
her resignation
on Thursday, December 29, following the announcement of the new government.
She claimed that the composition of this government and its policies are contrary to her worldview, and illustrates concerns about Netanyahu's agenda.
► Also to listen: International guest - The nationalist government in Israel "gives us good reason to worry"
Washington congratulates Binyamin Netanyahu, but remains cautious
Joe Biden has welcomed the return of what he calls "
a longtime friend
", reports our correspondent in Washington,
Loubna Anaki
.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden said he looked forward to working with Israel's prime minister again to "
build a prosperous region ."
".
But the American leader nevertheless underlined that Washington remains committed to a two-state solution, and opposed to any policy that would be contrary to shared objectives and values.
Thus, the arrival of this new Israeli government, the most right-wing in history, could well test relations between Israel and the United States.
A few weeks ago, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, recalled that Washington remained opposed to any new annexations or construction of colonies.
He also insisted on respect for the rights and freedoms of all, especially the LGBTQ community.
Questions that will have to be monitored given that the new government of Binyamin Netanyahu includes ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties, known for their homophobic and pro-colonization positions.
(
And with
AFP)
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Israel
Binyamin Netanyahu