After convening for its weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Israel’s government approved a rotation in the Foreign Ministry and in the Energy Ministry. Energy Minister Israel Katz was appointed the new foreign minister and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was appointed the new energy minister. The trade in positions comes into effect Monday.
The rotation of positions was part of the 2022 coalition deal presented to the Knesset ahead of the swearing-in of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last December. Under the agreement, Cohen was set to serve as foreign minister for one year, to then be replaced by Katz for two years. Cohen was then set to resume his position for the government’s fourth and final year.
Cohen tried to prevent the rotation, arguing it was unwise to change ministerial leadership during a period of war. In an interview with Israel's Ynet publication on Dec. 21, Cohen said, "I haven’t spoke with the prime minister on that yet, but I think that rotating during war is not the right thing to do. That being said, I respect agreements, and if the prime minister asks for it, I will of course respect the agreement."
Cohen will continue to serve in the security cabinet.
