Meir Cohen (politician)

Meir Cohen (born 15 November 1955 Mogador, Morocco) is an Israeli politician and, since March 2013 Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs in the cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Life

Cohen was born in 1955 in Morocco and came to Israel with his family in 1962. After the family lived in one years Jeroham, founded the Cohen's shared with other Jewish families, the town of Dimona. Cohen did his military service in a paratrooper unit and fought in the Yom Kippur War.

After his military service, Cohen visited the Ben- Gurion University of the Negev and studied Jewish history and philosophy there. The acquisition of the Bachelor Cohen joined to a master's degree in Jewish Studies at the Schechter Institute. He worked as a teacher and was eventually headmaster in Dimona. Cohen was elected Member of Jisra'el Beiteinu and 2003 for mayor of his hometown. In 2008 he was confirmed in office. In October 2012, he joined Yesh Atid and ran for the elections to the 19th Knesset on Rank 4 of his party. He was elected to the Knesset in February 2013 and appointed Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs.

In May 2013 Cohen caused a stir when he spoke out against the official government position for an immediate task of the isolated Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Private

Cohen is married and has three children.