Israeli Commentator Named Enemy by Iranian Regime for Exposing Regional Truths
Dr. Eddy Cohen, an Israeli commentator specializing in Arab affairs, has been officially designated as an "enemy of the state" by the Iranian regime. This unprecedented move came after Iranian intelligence published a blacklist of 415 hostile entities, including media figures and organizations, in an official document submitted to their attorney general and released in a state newspaper. Cohen appears under the category of "hostile media figures," alongside Channel 14.
Cohen, who speaks and writes in Arabic and has over one million followers in the Arab world, explains that the Iranian regime's decision reflects their deep fear of his influence rather than his political or military status. He is neither a politician nor a soldier but a commentator whose truthful reporting penetrates the propaganda walls of regimes in the Middle East, exposing the realities behind economic collapse, corruption, and militia activities.
He cites examples such as the Egyptian military's prioritization of arms purchases over public welfare, the destruction wrought by Hezbollah in Lebanon under Iranian direction, and the theft of resources by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Cohen also notes that other regional regimes, including Egypt, have attempted to silence him by requesting social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to block his accounts within their borders.
The Saudi newspaper Arab News named Cohen one of the most influential commentators in the Middle East in 2021, recognizing his strategic threat to authoritarian narratives. Cohen highlights that in countries like Algeria, Lebanon, and others, people have been imprisoned merely for engaging with his content online. The Iranian regime equates journalists like him with terrorist organizations to justify persecution.
Despite being barred from visiting Lebanon, Egypt, or Iran, Cohen remains committed to his work, emphasizing that the real threat to these regimes is the awareness and truth he spreads among Arab populations. He concludes that while they can blacklist him, they cannot stop the information that has already reached the hearts and minds of people in Beirut, Baghdad, and Cairo.
