Yohanan Cohen
Encyclopedia
Yohanan Cohen is a former Israel
i politician and diplomat.
, though occupied by Germany
at the time), Cohen attended high school in Poland
before and was active in the Zionist Youth group, before immigrating
to Mandate Palestine in 1937.
He joined the Hagana in 1938, and served as a member of the Jewish Settlement police between 1941 and 1944. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
he served as a Captain in the 19th Golani Brigade
, and later served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the reserves.
Following Israeli independence, Cohen became a member of the Histadrut
's organising committee, and was also a director of the secretariat of the World Zionist Youth group between 1952 and 1954.
A member of the Progressive Party
, he was a member of the party's directorate and political committee. Whilst he was never elected to the Knesset
, he served for two years between 1957 and 1959 as a replacement for Yeshayahu Forder
.
He began working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1960, initially in the information department. In 1963 he was sent to Boston where he served as Conulate General. In 1968 he returned to Israel to become Director of the information department, and in 1970 became director of the Eastern Europe department.
In 1973 Cohen was appointed ambassador to Romania
, moving to the same position in Finland
in 1976. He returned to Israel in 1979, and in 190 became Director of the History Department, a position he held until 1983.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician and diplomat.
Biography
Born in Łódź (then part of the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, though occupied by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at the time), Cohen attended high school in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
before and was active in the Zionist Youth group, before immigrating
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Mandate Palestine in 1937.
He joined the Hagana in 1938, and served as a member of the Jewish Settlement police between 1941 and 1944. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
he served as a Captain in the 19th Golani Brigade
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
, and later served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the reserves.
Following Israeli independence, Cohen became a member of the Histadrut
Histadrut
HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
's organising committee, and was also a director of the secretariat of the World Zionist Youth group between 1952 and 1954.
A member of the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (Israel)
The Progressive Party was a political party in Israel.-History:The Progressive Party was a liberal party, most of whose founders came from the ranks of the New Aliyah Party and HaOved HaTzioni, which had been active prior to independence...
, he was a member of the party's directorate and political committee. Whilst he was never elected to the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
, he served for two years between 1957 and 1959 as a replacement for Yeshayahu Forder
Yeshayahu Forder
Dr Yeshayahu Forder was a German-Israeli lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the Progressive Party between 1949 and 1957.-Biography:...
.
He began working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1960, initially in the information department. In 1963 he was sent to Boston where he served as Conulate General. In 1968 he returned to Israel to become Director of the information department, and in 1970 became director of the Eastern Europe department.
In 1973 Cohen was appointed ambassador to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, moving to the same position in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 1976. He returned to Israel in 1979, and in 190 became Director of the History Department, a position he held until 1983.