The Israeli government, in a statement on Sunday, officially sanctioned the appointment of a new foreign minister to succeed Eli Cohen, who is set to assume the role of energy minister as part of a pre-arranged ministerial rotation.
These appointments are contingent on approval from the Israeli parliament. While Eli Cohen retains his position on the security cabinet, Yisrael Katz is slated to take on the responsibilities of the foreign affairs minister.
The development unfolds as Israel marks its 86th day in conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, initiated by an attack from the Palestinian militant group on October 7. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in the loss of 1,200 lives and the capture of 240 hostages.
In addition to the ministerial changes, the Israeli government has given the green light for municipal elections, previously postponed, to proceed in February, pending parliamentary approval. The prime minister’s office explained that although elections are typically avoided during wartime, these elections were predetermined and had already faced a prior postponement.
