But now Netanyahu’s own Likud party is making it harder for Cohen to join. Likud MK Israel Katz, the head of the party’s governing secretariat, said he would not reduce the 16-month membership requirement for candidates to run with the party.
“By me, there won’t be more candidates,” said Katz. Israel Hayom. “Whoever wants to run, come now, when we’re in opposition. I won’t lower the minimum membership requirement for anyone.”
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By law, Cohen faces a mandatory cooling-off period for former IDF generals and heads of intelligence agencies to run for the Knesset that will only end in June 2024 or two more elections. But the law will not prevent Cohen already joining Likud or serving as a minister on behalf of the party if he returns to power.
Credited with launching daring operations as head of Mossad for five years, Cohen was recently tapped by SoftBank, a giant Japanese conglomerate holding company, to head its investment arm in Israel.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz attends a cabinet meeting in December 2019. (credit: Mark Israel Salem)
Katz isn’t the only potential Likud leadership candidate trying to undermine Cohen, who was found to be the most popular potential candidate in a poll conducted for Channel 12. meet the Press program three months ago
Likud officials said they believe neither Katz nor the other candidates can ultimately succeed in preventing Cohen from running with the party after his cooling-off period ends.
“Do you think if Yossi Cohen comes in, they won’t authorize him?” A Likud official asked. “There are statements that people make at certain times that are not said when the time is right. Even if Katz opposes waiving the minimum membership requirement for Cohen, the Secretariat will pass it. To the party game-changer Won’t say no
Katz told Jerusalem Post On Friday, he didn’t talk about Cohen.
“What has gone unnoticed is any attempt to assess my perspective on an incident, a distorted reality,” he said.
Jonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.