Eli Cohen (politician)

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen attends an event at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, May 17, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

June 26, 2023, 1:07 am

Foreign minister says Israel ‘very optimistic’ on normalization deal with Saudis

Eli Cohen notes ‘window of opportunity’ for deal before March 2024, after which US likely to focus more on presidential election cycle

By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid

In this photo taken with low shutter speed, Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. (Amr Nabil/AP)

June 20, 2023, 8:01 pm

Flights between Israel and Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims won’t be ready for Hajj

While US, Saudi and Israeli officials had been working to get line up by end of month, Hanegbi says they weren’t able to pull it off; reason not said to be political

By Jacob Magid

(R) Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Jerusalem, May 17, 2023 (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90) and (L) US Vice President Kamala Harris on May 27, 2023, in West Point, New York (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

June 7, 2023, 11:29 am

FM on Kamala Harris: ‘Wouldn’t be able to name one overhaul clause that bothers her’

After US veep speaks up for independent judiciary at Israeli Embassy 75th bash, Eli Cohen says he believes she hasn’t read proposal, later stresses ‘deep respect’ for her and DC

By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid

President Isaac Herzog (L) reviews an honor guard in Baku alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, May 30, 2023 (Haim Zach/GPO)

May 30, 2023, 6:38 pm

In Baku, Azerbaijan’s president thanks Herzog for Israeli arms supply

Israel’s head of state received by honor guard before meeting with Ilham Aliyev, as ties grow between Jerusalem and Iran’s neighbor

By Lazar Berman

President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog board their flight to Baku, Azerbaijan, May 30, 2023 (Haim Zach/GPO)

May 30, 2023, 12:00 pm

Before flying to Baku, Herzog strikes optimistic note on judicial reform talks

President to meet Azerbaijani leader, as Israel continues to build partnership with Iran’s northern neighbor

By Lazar Berman

President Isaac Herzog departs Israel for the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, November 7, 2022. (Haim Zach/GPO)

May 28, 2023, 3:13 pm

Herzog to meet Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev in Baku as ties expand

President and health and interior minister set to visit Baku on Tuesday, as Israel continues to build partnership with Iran’s northern neighbor

By Lazar Berman

US President Joe Biden meets then-opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu (right) at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, July 14, 2022. At left is Secretary of State Antony Blinken; 2nd-left is US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides. (GPO)

May 23, 2023, 10:18 pm

US wants Israel to shelve judicial overhaul in return for Saudi normalization — TV

Report also claims both Washington and Riyadh are conditioning potential establishment of diplomatic ties on Israel restarting peace talks with Palestinians

By ToI Staff

File: Benjamin Netanyahu (right) during a Likud party meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 13, 2021; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) speaks during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 14, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90; Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)

May 22, 2023, 11:03 pm

Netanyahu said to speak with Saudi Arabia’s MBS about flights for Israeli pilgrims

Riyadh reportedly demanding major concessions granting PA security presence on Temple Mount, further powers in West Bank; PM’s office, Foreign Minister deny report

By ToI Staff

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on January 29, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2023, 10:50 pm

FM Cohen headed to Hungary next week, with Orban meeting in the works

Top diplomat to also visit Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia on Europe tour; Budapest has been called model for proposed judicial overhaul

By Lazar Berman

May 21, 2023, 11:54 pm

Israel reportedly in ‘advanced’ talks for direct flights to Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Several outlets claim breakthrough in talks for pilgrimage flights next month, which would ease burden for Muslims making trip; FM Cohen says normalization possible in 6 months

By ToI Staff

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, meets his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billström in Stockholm, May 15, 2023. (MAG/ Israel Embassy in Sweden)

May 15, 2023, 11:19 pm

FM Cohen visits Stockholm, hails ‘new page’ in Israel-Sweden ties

Sweden’s top diplomat calls Eli Cohen’s trip, the first by an Israeli foreign minister since 2001, ‘so long overdue’

By AP

Smoke and fire rise from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike targeting a building in Gaza, May 13, 2023. The building was owned by an Islamic Jihad official. (AP Photo/Ashraf Amra)

May 14, 2023, 12:57 pm

‘We made no promises’: FM Cohen says Israel offered PIJ nothing beyond ceasefire

Foreign minister insists Jerusalem didn’t agree to concessions as part of deal to end Gaza fighting, says that controversial Flag March will go through Muslim Quarter as planned

By Jacob Magid

The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

May 11, 2023, 3:07 pm

EU Parliament slams ‘hateful’ Palestinian textbooks, threatens funding freeze

Resolution ‘deplores’ that problematic and inciting content has not been removed, conditions financial support for education on its removal

By Stuart Winer and ToI Staff

US National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and State Department energy envoy Amos Hochstein. (AP/collage)

May 8, 2023, 3:30 pm

After talks in Saudi Arabia, senior White House officials to meet PM in Jerusalem

US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk and energy czar Amos Hochstein fly in from Jeddah; Cohen to talk by phone with Secretary of State Antony Blinken

By Lazar Berman

This combination picture shows Jordanian MP Imad al-Adwan, arrested at the Allenby Bridge border crossing, and handguns allegedly seized from him on April 23, 2023 (Jordanian media; courtesy)

May 7, 2023, 10:31 am

Israel hands over Jordanian MP who allegedly smuggled 200 guns into West Bank

Shin Bet says Imad al-Adwan smuggled contraband, including firearms, 12 times since February 2022 using his diplomatic passport in exchange for ‘large sums of money’

By Emanuel Fabian