Attorney Roey Cohen
Attorney Roey Cohen is the President of Lahav, the umbrella organization representing independent businesses and self-employed workers in Israel, and a prominent advocate for small business economic resilience.
Attorney Roey Cohen serves as the President of Lahav (the Israel Chamber of Independent Organizations and Businesses), a role in which he represents the interests of hundreds of thousands of self-employed Israelis and small business owners. His leadership is defined by a consistent demand for government and institutional accountability toward the "backbone of the Israeli economy," particularly during periods of national security and economic instability. Cohen frequently interfaces with the Knesset Finance Committee and the Bank of Israel to advocate for policies that alleviate the financial burden on independent workers, who often lack the safety nets afforded to salaried employees.
In the context of Israel's prolonged security challenges, Cohen has emerged as a vocal critic of conservative monetary policies that he argues fail to account for the unique pressures on small businesses. He maintains that the survival of the independent sector is a matter of national resilience, as these businesses are essential for maintaining economic continuity during wartime. His advocacy often focuses on interest rate adjustments, tax relief, and direct compensation mechanisms for businesses in conflict zones or those impacted by reserve duty call-ups. Cohen's position emphasizes that without proactive support from the Bank of Israel and the Ministry of Finance, the economic damage to the self-employed sector could lead to long-term structural harm to the Israeli market. He continues to push for more aggressive fiscal and monetary interventions to ensure that independent businesses can weather the ongoing crisis and contribute to the post-war recovery.