Yitzhak Cohen

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Yitzhak Cohen (Hebrew: יצחק כהן) (born: December 2, 1951) is an Israeli politician and member of the 14-16th Knessets, former National Authority of Religious Services Minister, and former Deputy Minister of Finance. He is number two on Shas' list.

Cohen is married, with ten children. He was born in Ashkelon, and has served on its city council for two and a half terms. Unlike most Shas members, Cohen has served in the IDF (as a Major). In 1995, he was elected to the Knesset. During the fifteenth Knesset he served as National Authority of Religious Services Minister in Ehud Barak's government, until Shas left the coalition in July 11, 2000. In May 2, 2001, he became Deputy Minister of Finance in Ariel Sharon's first government. He was voted to the 17th Knesset in the 2006 legislative elections. As of May 4, 2006, he is Minister without Portfolio in-charge of the dismantled National Authority of Religious Services Ministry and related areas.