Aharon Cohen

Aharon Cohen was born in 1910 in Briceni

Aharon Cohen was born in 1910 in Briceni, Bessarabia. He came to Palestine in 1929 and was among the founders of kibbutz Sha'ar Ha'amakin. Four years later he went back to Romania to organize a Zionist youth movement.

He returned in 1936 and was elected to the executive of Ha-kibbutz Ha'artzi, where he set up its Arab Department. In 1942 he joined the Histadrut's Arab Department and served as secretary of the League for Jewish Arab Rapprochement and Cooperation. In 1947 he spoke before UNSCOP in favor of a binational state.

In 1948 he became head of Mapam's Arab Department and wrote a party policy that opposed expelling civilians. In 1964 he published the book Israel and the Arab World, which appeared in English in 1970.

In 1958 he was accused of passing information to a foreign agent after meeting a Soviet diplomat. In 1960 he was convicted and sentenced to 5 years, and on appeal the Supreme Court reduced the term. The president pardoned him, and he was released in 1963.

After his release he continued his academic work and published books. He died in 1980 and was buried at Sha'ar Ha'amakin. He was married to Rivka and had 2 children.