For two weeks Cohen was put under surveillance and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. One of the ministrys directors entered the room unannounced. Despite this, however, Israeli intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. [27] Syrian authorities have repeatedly denied family requests for the remains. Asked to pinpoint what she found not to be reflective of her familys experience, Ben-Dor cited the ethnic gap, noting her mother was never a maid as was portrayed in the series. Cohen (Sacha Baron Cohen) was the kind of guy to leave his wife spontaneous love letters throughout the house. Eli Cohen, at 29, offered his services to the Israeli Intelligence Services but was rebuked twice. I hope, pray, that he will be returned home by the time I die," Nadia told Haaretz in 2010. I had gotten under his cover," said Maurice Cohen. Nine months later, in late 1961, Eli came back to Israel for a visit with his wife Nadia. In Episode 5, Maurice puts the clues together when he covers for the regular analyst that communicates with Cohen using Morse code. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. [11] Start with Mossad [ edit] "Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future!". Fortunately, several were easy to spot, for they . Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. A devout Jew, Cohen wore tefillin during prayer, in his youth he planned of becoming a Rabbi with the backup of Moise Ventura (1893-1978), Chief Rabbi of Alexandria but the Rabbinical School closed down. Some attributed this to a sense of cockiness (despite the fears he had expressed in November 1964), due to the ability and ease he had moved about in the highest echelons of Syrian power. Eli Cohen provided an incredible amount of intelligence data to the Israeli Army over a period of three years. [18], Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions. Various reports say that Biton was unveiled and offered the option of becoming a double agent. The Israel Defense Forces were alleged to have used the trees as targeting markers during the Six-Day War, which enabled Israel to capture the Golan Heights in two days. Confused, he took the case to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, the official responsible for supervising New Zealand's two main intelligence agencies, telling him he could have solved the 53-year-old mystery. With senior staff officers acting as guides, Eli Cohen was provided an in-depth intelligence briefing of monumental proportions. They even photographed Eli on the Golan Heights, looking over into Israel, alongside the most high-ranking Syrian officers. Following Israel's independence in 1949, when Jewish families were leaving Egypt, Eli stayed back to finish his electronics degree. The condom was used as a timing tool for mixed chemicals and produce a minor burst of fire. Eli Cohen was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy best known for his espionage work in the 1960s in Syria, where it was alleged he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military hierarchy and became the chief adviser to the country's defense minister. Earlier communication between the alleged son and the intelligence agency reveals Al-Hafidh was adamant on receiving the money. ", "Sacha Baron Cohen To Star As Eli Cohen in Netflix Limited Series 'The Spy', Cohen's widow asks for his remains to be returned, PM's speech at the ceremony marking 40 years since the death of Eli Cohen, Our man in Damascus: Eli Cohen of blessed memory, Exhibition in the IDF & Defense Establishment Archives, Eli Cohen, moments after the execution (part 1), Eli Cohen, moments after the execution (part 2), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eli_Cohen&oldid=1140124388, Egyptian people convicted of spying for Israel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having same image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 15:41. Nadia was told that Eli was working for the ministry of defense and would be completely safe. He soon became accepted, well-liked, and respected, and made contacts with politicians, diplomats and military officials working out of the Syrian Embassy. Israeli intelligence was particularly excited about Cohen . It, however, did not change the situation. He was taught high-speed evasive driving techniques, Weapons proficiency (especially with a wide variety of small arms), topography, map reading, sabotage, and, most importantly, radio transmissions and cryptography. He was eventually exposed and captured by Syrian Intelligence in 1965, sentenced to death and hung at Damascus' main square. Cohen wasnt allowed tell anyone of the plans and told his wife that he was working abroad for Israels Defense Ministry. I am begging you my dear Nadia not to spend your time in weeping about some thing already passed. I want him, here and now, because I've reached the age that I deserve tranquillity. Nadia, however, never remarried. At this time the Ba'ath Party was illegal in Syria but the party seized power in 1963. Eli Cohen was first sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to establish his cover as a Syrian emigre. Eventually, they had three children: Sophie Ben-Dor, Irit Peleg, and Shai Cohen. [5] He studied at Cairo Farouk University. It is for these reasons Eli Cohen is known as Israels greatest spy. "I am the son of the only person on this planet who knows where the remains are buried," he told Newshub in an interview. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. He took on the name Kamel Amin Thaabet and went to live in Argentina for some time to build a name for himself in the Syrian expat community. (Israel GPO), President Reuven Rivlin and Nadia Cohen, at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Mossad super spy Eli Cohen, May 18, 2015. Cohen established his contact quickly, his letter of recommendation opened the gates to high society. Scheffeldt said that her husband never revealed his true identity, and she learned of it only after a television series aired in Egypt that described him as a national hero. one evening he met one gentleman, Abdel Latif Hassan, editor in chief of Arab world magazine publish in Argentina. Eli did go back to Syria, but his behavior changed. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. He also held parties at his home for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others. Syrian security services led by Suidani broke into Cohen's apartment on 24 January and caught him in the middle of a transmission to Israel. The Syrians have consistently refused to do so. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. The Syrian officer readily agreed and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. The Spy alternates between Cohens risky schemes with Nadias far more ordinary life. He was caught and sentenced to death. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. The transmissions became longer as well. [8], Cohen was found guilty of espionage by a military tribunal and sentenced to death under martial law. the plan was doomed from staring, one of the bombs exploded in the pocket of Philip Natanson and was arrested by police and other members were caught in the following days. The six-part drama about Israeli spy Eli Cohen has gripped viewers and critics alike with its pulse-racing tale of espionage and a deceptively good dramatic performance by Sacha Baron Cohen, better known for his comedy work, as the Mossad agent. Qudsi was ousted from power as a result of the March 8 coup, but Hafiz did not take power until months later. The TV film 'The Impossible Spy' (1987) chronicled Eli's life. Eli was brutally tortured and interrogated before he was publicly hanged on May 18, 1965, at the Marjeh Square in Damascus. His family is now settled in Bat Yam. To no avail. when you were three, your family left Lebanon and moved to Egypt Alexandria. That is, until Meir Dagan took over as chief. On the day of his execution, his last wish to see a rabbi was respected by the prison authorities, and Nissim Indibo, the elderly Chief Rabbi of Syria, accompanied him in the truck. In 1961, Eli was sent to Buenos Aires in the guise of a Syrian textile businessman. become close friends. She also said she understood and respected the show. Even today Syria refuses to return his body for burial in Israel. [12][20][21] Cohen was able to find out that the Syrians planned to divert the Jordan River headwaters in an attempt to deprive Israel of water resources, providing information to Israeli forces that enabled them to destroy the equipment prepared for the task. "We have six grandchildren," she says with pride as she points to a family photo on the wall. For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office. In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935, [10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. As a young adult, he worked within Egypt to secretly assist other Egyptian Jews in emigrating to Israel. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. On August 31, 1959, he married a beautiful Iraqi-born Jew, Nadia Majald. He lasted until just July that year when he resigned in protest of the Ba'ath military committee executing dissenting rivals who tried to stage a coup for power. Still Ben-Dor, who was four years old when her father was killed, said she was pleasantly surprised by actor Cohens portrayal. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. One of his friends found a new job as an accountant, month later he Marty with Nadia, a nurse of Iraqi origin. 4 Min Read. [12][16], In 2016, a Syrian group calling itself "Syrian art treasures" posted a video on Facebook showing Cohen's body after his execution. Egyptian authorities uncovered the spy ring and sentenced two of the members to death. "I have passed your response to our partners and am waiting for a reply," said the agent. The alleged son says the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) contacted him two years ago believing he has clues to the secret location, which his father had apparently taken to the grave. Eli could watch the entrance to the Syrian government officials' guest house. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Israeli ambassador, Itzhak Gerberg, would not comment on the report. Two of them were Abraham and Maurice. China Offering Cutting Edge Type 052D Destroyers For Export: Are Algeria and Russia its Most lIkely Clients? A memorial stone has been erected in the 'Garden of the Missing Soldiers' in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, to commemorate him. If I wanted something, I called, they put me through to him immediately. "The Spy" depicts Egyptian-born Cohen - played by Sacha Baron Cohen - as an ambitious, Arabic-speaking immigrant to Israel who is recruited by Mossad and, overcoming his fears and the strains on his family, infiltrates the Damascus high command by posing as a rich scion of the Syrian diaspora. They observed a period of radio silence, in the hope that any illegal transmissions could be identified. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Antoni Porowski Talks New Cookbook, Recipes and Tradition in Cooking, Netflix's 'The Spy': Eli Cohen's Remains Still a Mystery, How to Watch True Crime Series 'Unbelievable' on Netflix. Its unfamiliar to me, this form of expression in a global television series. The following year, Syria found out about Cohen by tracing his intelligence transmissions to Israel. [7][9], Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and moved to Israel in 1957. But his knowledge of the Arab language and Arab culture, as well as prior work in espionage in Egypt, made him a good candidate for the Mossad. The Ba'athist coup and Eli Cohen's role. Eli Cohenalso learned to identify the type and age of tanks, aircraft, and cannons. By Lianne Back. Syria has not even disclosed the location of Eli's grave. Concentrate on yourself, looking forward for a better future! His graduate report stated that he had all the qualities needed to become a katsa, or field agent. Monthir Maosily, a former bureau chief for Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, claimed in 2007 that Hafiz and Cohen were not as close as was made out and that stories of Cohen infiltrating the very top of Syrian politics "had been exaggerated to undermine Syria, as if he was a spy who had transmitted Syria's deepest secrets.". Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). A number were only released 14 years later, after the 1967 War. He was sent to Argentina, where he took on the guise of a businessman, scion of a Syrian family. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. Periodically Eli would return to Israel to speak with his Israeli handlers and visit his wife and small children. Israeli spy who was captured and executed in Syria, that enabled them to destroy the equipment prepared for the task, "Israel's Secret Operation to Recover the Watch of a Legendary Spy", "Rumors fly that body of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen was found", "Eli Cohen, notre agent "top secret" Damas", "Mossad's master of deception: the astounding true story of Israeli super-spy Eli Cohen", Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: Netflix drama 'raises my blood pressure', "Unending agony for legendary spy Eli Cohen and his widow", "Israel's secret war against Hitler's scientists", "The History of Elie Cohen: An Egyptian Jew who became Israel's greatest spy", "Will Israel's superspy finally rest in peace? [2], A 2018 article published in Newsweek by Ronen Bergman excerpted from Bergman's book Rise and Kill First, says that Eli Cohen located Alois Brunner, a Nazi scientist suspected of living in Syria, and relayed the information to an Israel intelligence unit that later sent letter bombs to Brunner. This material may not be republished without the permission of the copyright owner. they carry out several bombings in Cairo and Alexandria, targeting libraries and cultural centers, cinemas, post offices. Eli's second instructor Yehuda taught him how to use a small, sophisticated radio transmitter. According to the report, Mossad agents were on their way to Auckland, with one text saying: "Wait for our partners to arrive before making a decision.". On May 15, 1965, Eli wrote a final letter to Nadia, requesting her not to mourn his death and stating that she should hold her head high, as her husband had done nothing wrong. [4], Cohen provided an extensive amount and wide range of intelligence data for the Israeli Army between 1961 and 1965. In 1960, Cohen was approached by the Mossad for a mission in Syria. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. For his loyalties, Hafiz grooms Thaabet to be deputy defense minister in his government. Cohen had aided the unit and was implicated, but they found no link between him and the perpetrators. His final visit was in 1964. They had a son, Daniel, and after the Six Day War they celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Still, the memory of those domestic joys sustains Cohen while hes away. Daniel Sonnenfeld,55 years after execution in Syria, Israeli spy Eli Cohen makes headlines,Jerusalem Post, February 27, 2021). Even after the blown operation led to the demise of the Operation Susannah spies, Eli Cohen left Egypt for Israel to undergo intensive espionage training in the summer of 1955. Nadia believed it and went to see him off at the airport in 1961. His wife, Nadia, would be left a widow with three very young children. The drunk guests would often end up blabbing about their work to Cohen, who was sober but would pretend to be intoxicated. He worked as an accountant and translator. Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anything. "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? Cohen was convicted of espionage. Eli Cohen was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy best known for his espionage work in the 1960s in Syria, where it was alleged he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military. [7], In January 1965, Syrian officials, who used Soviet-made tracking equipment and were assisted by Soviet experts, increased their efforts to find a high-level spy. In real life, Cohen was only able to return to Israel a few times during his mission. Israel desperately tried to have his sentence commuted, and despite requests from world leaders and Pope Paul VI for clemency, Cohen was hanged publicly in May of that year. And much of the credit for Israels ability to capture the Golan was due to Eli Cohen, Israels greatest spy. Nadia and 'Mossad' were on bad terms until Meir Dagan was made the agencys chief. Eli's first instructor Yitzhak learned to memorize things, he throws a dozen objects on the table and Eli observe them for a second and described them. This helped the army win the Six-Day War and capture the Golan Heights. On 18 May 1965, Eli cohen was woken by the jailer and fastened the noose, and hang up, the huge poster was fastened on his chest where his sentence was written in Arabic. Hafiz ordered Cohen's execution after he was convicted of espionage in 1965. The film featured John Shea as Eli. He reminded me of my father sometimes, she added. This week, KAN 11 began broadcasting a documentary series "Lochem 566," (Fighter 566, Cohen's Mossad codename). He even trained at the same facility that had served as home to his doomed Susannah compatriots in 1953. He returned to Egypt in 1956 but was suspected immediately and was placed under surveillance. The purposes of that visit were to pass on intelligence and to enable him to witness the birth of his third child. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (Hebrew: , Arabic: ; 6 December 1924 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. "His parents, Syrian Jews from the thriving town of Aleppo, had always instilled in their educationally minded son the traditions of the Jewish people, of Zionism, and of the culture of Syria's Jewish community, in particular." Intelligence officers who investigated the issue offered two possibilities: The first is that it was Egyptian intelligence that identified Cohen and gave him up to the Syrians; the second, which is considered more probable, is that the demand for information was so great that frequent communications via radio to Mossad headquarters exposed Cohen to Syrian counterintelligence. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. She has pleaded for years and is still waiting to receive Eli's body. It was approved by, The head of the presidency council on 17/5/1965, Top 10 Weakest Militaries in the World | The Bahamas, Central African Republic, The Gambia,Barbados, Somalia, Luxembourg military power, MiG-29 vs. Su-27: The Soviet Union's Two Top Fighters Went Head to Head in an East African Air War, Ravindra Kaushik RAW Agent ( Black Tiger) Wife, son, Death reason, | Facts about Ravindra Kaushik | Ravindra Kaushik Movie, Israel's Iron Dome Vs S-400 Russian Comparison, Price, Success Rate | Iron Dome vs S400 which is better, Top amazing facts about RAW and Agent : History, Foundation, Joining , Department of RAW, Eli Cohen Wife, Children | Israeli Spy biography | Last Letter to his wife and Children | Eli Cohen death writing translation | george seif syria. he soon became a well-known figure in the Arab circle. In 1954, the British pull out of Egypt completely. His first assignment was to infiltrate the Jewish community of Alexandria. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? He emigrated to Israel with the assistance of the Jewish Agency. He was promised support in any venture he might wish to undertake, and the generous sums of cash which he appeared to possess appealed to the unscrupulous who thought he could provide grease to their financial ambitions, as well as patriotic Syrians who hoped for an infusion of foreign capital into the Syrian state. Eli Cohen (pictured, at center) was born in Egypt in 1924 to Jewish parents who had immigrated to Alexandria from Aleppo, Syria. "This cooperation brings significant benefits to New Zealand's national security, we help them (Mossad), and they help us," they added. The news spread everywhere that the Syrian leader is a spy, a president friend, a millionaire. Diplomats, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and Pope Paul VI tried to intercede. It also provides 30% of Israels water sources. They had three children, Sophie, Irit, and Shai. Eli was, however, taken in by 'Mossad' when Director-General Meir Amit was in search of a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government. The complete trust Cohen enjoyed among his unwitting informants is illustrated by the following incident, which might have serious consequences for the Israeli agents. Israel could not survive without Jordan's water. If you've already watched all of The Spy and are curious to know more about Cohen, then these accounts of the real-life Cohen might make for curious reading. Nadia, understandably, has remained fixated on her loss. She had no idea about Elis secret mission and thus did not see the threats and risks involved. Eli, after all, was born in an Arab country, had oriental features, was known to be selfless and fearless in pursuit of a cause, and had knowledge of Arabic, English, and French. They warned me not to discuss the issue with Eli anymore and to share his secret with no one.". Nadia and Eli Cohen pictured in the 1960s The 41-year-old was brutally hanged in Marjeh Square in Damascus in front of a crowd of 10,000 people, in May 1965 - and despite his last request to have his body returned to Israel, the Syrian authorities have to this day never disclosed the whereabouts of his remains. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. Eli was born Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen, on December 26, 1924, in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt, into a staunch Jewish and Zionist family. But even after four decades, there are still many questions related to the Eli Cohen affair, some minor, others major - among them, the way in which Syrian counterintelligence identified the Israeli spy. When Intelligence came by a second time, he jumped at it. What is perhaps most amazing about Eli Cohen is that he was genuinely liked even loved by so many of the top Syrian leaders. He was stunned by the precision of the Israeli bombing during the 1964 attack. Syria tortures him but he was still lying, his face was covered with wounds, his nail was pulled out. He then underwent a show trial, like the Operation Susannah spies had in Egypt 12 years before., Like them, his verdict was predetermined. In a February 2006 interview with Jewish Magazine, Maurice Cohen said that he informed his brother that he knew he was "our man in Damascus" in an intriguing way, rather than outright confronting him as seen in The Spy. [7][9] The Israel Defense Forces recruited him in 1957 and placed him in military intelligence, where he became a counter-intelligence analyst. [29] Mossad director Yossi Cohen presented it to Cohen's family in a ceremony, and it is currently on display at Mossad headquarters. Last year, Israel was able to retrieve Cohens wristwatch from Syria and return it to his family. Recruitment into the Mossad. He made friends with many of the guests and ended up receiving classified military briefings and visiting Syrian military sites. He is being executed according to the two articles 158 and 159 of the military penal code, and articles 271, 272, and 274 of the general penal code. Also in Episode 5, viewers see Hafiz assume power after demanding the resignation of Syria's then-president, Nazim al-Qudsi. On 29 December 2022, Cohen was sworn in as Foreign Minister alongside a new government, and will rotate the position with Israel Katz. He continued his social life, spending a lot of time in cafes listening to political gossip. It doesnt fit our story but I understand the situation. Prior to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, Cohen was arrested and interrogated over his Zionist activities. He is best known for his espionage work in 196165 in Syria, where he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military hierarchy.[1][2][3]. According to Maurice Cohen, this really happened. they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant. Unfortunately, Nadia and her family are still waiting to get Elis body and have not made peace with it. I beg my wife to forgive me, to take care of herself and our children. Cohen's astonishing undercover career lasted for four years. Were they not interested? one after the other 69 people were arrested. As the Syrian Army officer explained to Eli the fortifications the Syrian Army had built, Eli suggested that the Syrians plant trees there to deceive the Israelis into thinking it was unfortified, as well as to provide shade and beauty for the soldiers stationed there. He also held parties at his home, which turned into orgies for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others, who used Elis apartment for assignations with various women, including Defense Ministry secretaries, airline hostesses, and Syrian singing stars. At these parties such highly-placed officials would talk freely of their work and army plans. The Golan Heights defenses were top-secret and closed only to top military staff. love of country, sacrifice and about his life and my life, my children." . Eli Cohenhad succeeded in friending a Saudi entrepreneur who had been contracted to plan and dig canals, the name was his friend was bin Laden, little Osama's father. Abdel Latif Hassan immediately wrote four letters one to his brother-in-law, two to friends in Beirut, and fourth to his son in Damascus. They were caught spying for Israel in 1953 and some of them were hanged. [5], His parents and three brothers left for Israel in 1949, but he remained to finish a degree in electronics and coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities. He was driven to the airport, where his wife Nadia saw him off. Al-Gamal was born in 1927 and aspired to become an actor. Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. In January 1965, Syrian government officials announced that Eli is an Israeli spy. The leading figure in the break-in was the head of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Suedani Elis nemesis. However, Eli's loyalty was scrutinized, and he faced harassment by the 'Muslim Brotherhood.' His fathers name was Amin Taabet, and his mothers Saadia Ibrahim. But within a month he had lost his Tel Aviv-based accountancy job. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Al-Gamal rushed to inform his superiors that Thabet was none other than Eli Cohen, the Alexandrian Jew. Due to this information, the Israeli Air Force was able to obliterate the Syrian plans for the diversion scheme by shelling and bombing the bulldozers and other equipment used for the scheme in early 1964. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. in Israel, he found the job of translating weekly and monthly magazines for a man after a few months he was fired. [22], It is claimed that the intelligence that Cohen gathered before his arrest was an important factor in Israel's success in the Six-Day War,[23] although some intelligence experts have argued that the information he provided about the Golan Heights fortifications was also readily available from ground and aerial reconnaissance.
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