Uzi Cohen ( he, עוזי כהן, 1 May 1952 – 18 January 2008) was an Israeli

Likud Likud ( he, הַלִּיכּוּד, HaLikud, The Consolidation), officially known as Likud – National Liberal Movement, is a major centre-right to right-wing political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon ...

activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

and politician.

Early life

Born in moshav

Tal Shahar Tal Shahar ( he, טַל שַׁחַר, ''lit.'' Dawn Dew) is a moshav in central Israel. Located between Gedera and Latrun, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In , it had a population of . History The village was est ...

, he moved with his family to

Ra'anana Ra'anana ( he, רַעֲנָנָּה, lit. "Fresh") is a city in the southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel. It was founded in 1922 as an American-Jewish settlement, 1 km south of the village of Tabsur, where an important ...

at the age of two. He joined the Likud at age 16.

Political career

In 1990, Cohen became the deputy mayor of Ra'anana under mayor

Ze'ev Bielski Ze'ev Bielski ( he, זאב בילסקי, born 13 March 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Kadima between 2009 and 2013. He previously chaired the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization and worked as ...

. After Bielski was appointed head of the Jewish Agency, Cohen became interim mayor of the city until elections were held. Cohen lost, and once again he served as deputy mayor. Cohen was a well known public figure in Israel, due to his work with the Likud and his larger than life persona. He would often quoted in the media and boasted of his ability to "arrange jobs" for friends and acquaintances through his position within the Likud party. He also championed the building of a canal that, according to him, would turn Ra'anana into "the Venice of the Middle East." Cohen is also famous for being spoofed on

Eretz Nehederet ''Eretz Nehederet'' ( he, ארץ נהדרת; ) is an Israeli prime-time television satirical sketch comedy show, that premiered on Keshet's Channel 2 in 2003. It features satirical references to current affairs of the past week through parodies ...

, a prime-time satirical television show on Channel 2 Television.

Death

Cohen died of an apparent

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

on 18 January 2008, aged 55.

References

Uzi Cohen, renowned Likud activist, dies aged 55
Haaretz {{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Uzi 1952 births 2008 deaths Deputy mayors of places in Israel Israeli activists Israeli Jews Likud politicians Mayors of Ra'anana