Altogether, he returned to Israel three times between 1962 and 1965. Despite her criticism of the series, Ben-Dor said she understood why the shows creators took artistic license with her fathers story. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. The new Ba'ath government initially installed Lu'ay al-Atassi as president in March 1963. She smiles. Still, Israeli Intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. On January 24, 1965, Syrian intelligence broke into his home in the middle of a transmission.
The spy who never came home - The Jewish Chronicle He sent intelligence to Israel by radio, secret letters, and occasionally in person; he secretly traveled to Israel three times. The president was ousted from power a year later in 1966. 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. In early 1964, Eli was able to radio Tel Aviv that the channel was being dug along the entire length of the Syrian Heights to receive the diverted flow of the Baniyas River - one of the Jordans major sources - and empty into Jordanian territory. Eli carefully spelled out all the details of the project and passed them on to Israeli Intelligence. Since Eli did not have a steady job back then, even though he worked as an accountant, he had to rely more on Nadia to help support the family and their marriage.
Israeli spy's widow 'hurt' by Netflix biopic, but welcomes publicity Cohen was born in 1924 in Alexandria, Egypt to a devout Mizrahi Jewish and Zionist family. Cohen would then send intelligence back to Israel using a hidden radio transmitter. Despite this, however, Israeli intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. Cohen was arrested in January 1965 while transmitting to his handlers. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. 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. [9], Syria refused to return Cohen's body to his family in Israel, and his wife Nadia sent a letter to Amin al-Hafiz in November 1965 asking his forgiveness for Cohen's actions and requesting his remains. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. In January 1965, Syrian security services broke into Eli's apartment, where he was caught while he was escaping to Israel. Intelligence created a completely new identity for him. He then underwent a show trial, like the Operation Susannah spies had in Egypt 12 years before., Like them, his verdict was predetermined. "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? I beg my wife to forgive me, to take care of herself and our children. - From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. So now we have a request. [9], In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935,[10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. According to Scheffeldt, Cohen and al-Gamal were arrested together in 1954 and released shortly after. I don't want to go to my death longing for my Eli to rest in the soil of the land that he loved and for which he gave his life. Syria tortures him but he was still lying, his face was covered with wounds, his nail was pulled out. Warning: This article contains spoilers for all six episodes of The Spy. He would entertain high-ranking politicians and military officials at extravagant parties where there would be many women and lots of booze. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Eli had to conceal the microfilm inexpensive boxes containing backgammon pieces .the music ornament could be dug out of the polished wood and reinserted after microfilm had been placed in the cavity. He was also allowed to write a final letter to his wife. On his last visit, in 1964, he told intelligence officers he wanted to come in from the cold because he was concerned a new Syrian intelligence commander did not like him. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. On 29 December 2022, Cohen was sworn in as Foreign Minister alongside a new government, and will rotate the position with Israel Katz. "It was all for good intentions.
'I know where Eli Cohen is buried,' says alleged son of ex - ynetnews His widow mentioned that the watch was up for sale months earlier, and Mossad managed to capture it. [16][17] Mossad had carefully planned the tactics that he was to use in building relationships with high-ranking Syrian politicians, military officials, influential public figures, and the diplomatic community. Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. one after the other 69 people were arrested. also learned to identify the type and age of tanks, aircraft, and cannons. In January 1947, he was enlisted in the Egyptian army as an alternative to paying the mandatory sum that all young Jews had to pay. 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.
Cohen heads to Germany to discuss Iran uranium enrichment, IRGC Syrian counterintelligence eventually uncovered the spy conspiracy and convicted Cohen under pre-war martial law, sentencing him to death and hanging him publicly in 1965. "There was great excitement because it is essentially the only item of dad that came back, we have nothing. 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.". Prior to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, Cohen was arrested and interrogated over his Zionist activities. 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. [28] The press announced on 5 July 2018 that Cohen's wristwatch had been retrieved from Syria. The drunk guests would often end up blabbing about their work to Cohen, who was sober but would pretend to be intoxicated. Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. Eli's wife Nadia, played by Hadar Ratzon Rotem, has to deal with raising two children without her husband, who disappears for up to a year at a time without being allowed to tell her what he's actually doing or even where he is. Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anything. As depicted in Episodes 4 and 5 of The Spy, Cohen aligns with Hafiz and the Ba'ath political party to overthrow the reigning government of Syria in March 1963.
The daughter of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen said Sunday "it hurt" to watch the new Netflix series about her father's life and execution in Syria, lamenting some historical inaccuracies in. [4] His father had moved there from Aleppo in 1914. Al-Hafidh then sent his bank details, but the deal went cold. one evening he met one gentleman, Abdel Latif Hassan, editor in chief of Arab world magazine publish in Argentina. The highly vigilant Russian security experts, equipped with very sensitive technical intelligence-gathering equipment, pinpointed the source of the transmissions in the Syrian capital and it was Elis home. [7] He took part in various Israeli covert operations in the country during the 1950s, although the Egyptian government could never prove his involvement in Operation Goshen, an Israeli operation to smuggle Egyptian Jews out of the country and resettle them in Israel due to increasing hostility in Egypt. It is for these reasons Eli Cohen is known as Israels greatest spy. I send you my last kisses to you and to the children: Sophie, Irit, and Shaoul, and to the rest of my family, especially my mother. 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. A memorial stone has been erected in the 'Garden of the Missing Soldiers' in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, to commemorate him. The execution was recorded on 35mm film.
Eli Cohen Wife, Children | Israeli Spy biography | Last Letter to his She understood from him that he would be working for the Ministry of Defense, but she didnt know where or in what capacity. "This cooperation brings significant benefits to New Zealand's national security, we help them (Mossad), and they help us," they added. Syria has not even disclosed the location of Eli's grave. But within a month he had lost his Tel Aviv-based accountancy job. The newly appointed Syrian intelligence colonel, Ahmed Su'edani, disliked Eli. The Syrians and their Russian advisers were alarmed by the intelligence that was seeping out of the country. I was more worried, Ben-Dor said of hearing that Cohen, who is known for playing comedic figures such as Borat, would star in the series. It says this "does not imply any special relationship or endorsement". 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. Cohen's widow, Nadia, said that following the report she appealed directly to Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, demanding answers as to why the deal did not go through. [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. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. He also held parties at his home for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others. Eli was caught in the act and there was nothing he could do. If I wanted something, I called, they put me through to him immediately. His last wish was to see a rabbi. Hence, Nissim Andabo, the elderly chief rabbi of Syria accompanied him to Marjeh Square.. I want him (Yossi Cohen) to clarify what hapepned," said the 84-year-old. He was sentenced to death. 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. But the intelligence officers convinced him to go back one last time. Thus, he wished to terminate his assignment in Syria. Another tutor trained him to speak Arabic. Egypt has the strongest of the Arab countries and sworn enamy if Israel with the decision to evacuate Egypt, modern bases, airfield, and huge stores of equipment and war material would fall into the Egyptian army. "Their ages range from four and a half to 32." "You must be very proud," I offer. Following Israel's independence in 1949, when Jewish families were leaving Egypt, Eli stayed back to finish his electronics degree. Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future! He soon established himself in the social and cultural life of the Syrian community of Buenos Aires and was known as a wealthy businessman who was generous, tipped well, and loved the night life. [4], Cohen provided an extensive amount and wide range of intelligence data for the Israeli Army between 1961 and 1965. Cohen established his contact quickly, his letter of recommendation opened the gates to high society. Cohen expressed fear of discovery to the Mossad on his last secret visit to Israel in November 1964, and he stated that he wished to terminate his assignment in Syria. Eli Cohen provided an incredible amount of intelligence data to the Israeli Army over a period of three years. His graduate report stated that he had all the qualities needed to become a katsa, or field agent. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen heads to Germany Tuesday as part of Israel's campaign to halt Iran's . He escaped punishment due to lack of evidence. Eli did go back to Syria, but his behavior changed.
Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: 'When he was caught, something died The Syrian officer readily agreed and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. On August 31, 1959, he married a beautiful Iraqi-born Jew, Nadia Majald. The goal was to gather intelligence from high-ranking Syrian politicians and military officials. [12], He was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina. In the show, Cohenas Thaabetbefriends Hafiz in Buenos Aires and later in Damascus helps Hafiz's Ba'ath party seize power. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. The execution was broadcast on Syrian television. 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.
The Story of Eli Cohen, the Israeli Superspy Who Almost Became Syria's [7][9], Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. Nine months later, in late 1961, Eli came back to Israel for a visit with his wife Nadia. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. Cohen was convicted of espionage. In the 1970s, they left Israel for Germany and in 1982, al-Gamal, alias Jacques Biton, died of an illness. Diplomats, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and Pope Paul VI tried to intercede.
In early 1961, Chaim Herzog, Chief of Military Intelligence and later president of Israel, signed the document authorizing Cohens use as a spy. She had no idea about Elis secret mission and thus did not see the threats and risks involved. A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. Nadia, understandably, has remained fixated on her loss. In the short periods he came home he wanted to absorb all the love from his children, he even smelt their scent to stay with him, and he wanted to give all the love possible, like a father to his children. In real life, the closeness between Hafiz and Cohen has been disputed by the former president of Syria, who claimed in a 2001 interview with Al Jazeera that they couldn't have met in Buenos Aires because Hafiz was in Moscow until 1962, by which time Cohen had gone undercover as Thaabet in Damascus. The agency concluded that Cohen had a high IQ, great bravery, a phenomenal memory, and the ability to keep a secret; but the tests also showed that in spite of his modest appearance, he has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and a lot of internal tension. Cohen, the results indicated, does not always evaluate danger correctly, and is liable to assume risks beyond those which are necessary..
Eli Cohen, the spy who was larger than life - The Jerusalem Post His captors later remarked on his noble bearing and his courage despite the horrific Syrian interrogation methods. For 19 years, Jewish settlements in the north were under constant threat of Syrian guns. But it . No film or video was previously known to exist of the execution. Eli was, however, taken in by 'Mossad' when Director-General Meir Amit was in search of a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government. According to Maurice Cohen, this really happened. While undercover in Argentina in The Spy, Cohen struggles to resist drafting her notes, even if it puts him in danger. Melita Norwood | longest-serving British spy | Melita Norwood Book, Death, Family, Daughter | melita norwood images. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. In 1963, new Ramdas replaced Meir Amit for a few months in charge of both a man and Mossad. children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen Born Country: Egypt Spies Israeli Men Died on: May 18, 1965 place of death: Al Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria Notable Alumni: Cairo Farouk University Cause of Death: Executed By Hanging City: Alexandria, Egypt More Facts Recommended Lists: Israeli Celebrities Male Spies Israeli Spies Capricorn Men Eli Cohen's son, Shaul, was only 2 weeks old when he last saw his father. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. Because of that, perhaps he just tired of the whole charade. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. One of the most difficult tasks for Eli Cohen was to learn the intricate and unmistakable phonetic tune of Syrian Arabic; prior to his intelligence training, his Egyptian accent was undeniable. His trainer was an Iraqi-born Jew who had extensive experience training operatives in speaking Arabic and the traditions and Muslim customs. Sign in to stop seeing this, Sara Netanyahu accosted by protesters at Tel Aviv hair salon, extricated by police, Brides joy turns to sorrow after Elan Ganeles killed driving to her wedding, Hiker discovers 2,500-year-old ancient receipt from reign of Purim kings father, Netanyahu compares Tel Aviv protesters to settlers who set fire to Huwara. The film featured John Shea as Eli. [19] He also learned of a secret plan to create three successive lines of bunkers and mortars; the Israel Defense Forces would otherwise have expected to encounter only a single line. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. On May 18, 1965, Eli was publicly hanged at the Marjeh Square in Damascus, Syria. "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. Warning: This post contains spoilers for The Spy. Cohen's astonishing undercover career lasted for four years. In 1962 Eli cohen was in Damascus with crowded mosques and colorful souks, he rented a luxurious villa in the classy Abu Ramen neighborhood, close to the Syrian embassy. He was stunned by the precision of the Israeli bombing during the 1964 attack. Elis larger-than-life persona has attracted many filmmakers, who have then used his story for their projects. 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. References ^ Eli Cohen Knesset ^ Eli Cohen Ministry of Economy and Industry ^ Kulanu list Central Elections Committee He was quickly able to infiltrate the highest levels of Syrian society. His final visit was in 1964. 4 Min Read. In the fifties, Israel had launched a project of huge pipeline and canals that would carry a part of the jorden river water to the arid Negev region. Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. In February 1962, Cohen moved to Damascus. Cohen's brothers Abraham and Maurice led a campaign to return his remains; Maurice died in 2006, and Nadia now leads it. You're not alone. They successfully detected radio transmissions and were able to triangulate the transmitter. He then moved to Damascus in February 1962, under his new identity, Kamel Amin Thaabet, to extract classified information from Syrian military officers. 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. In 1965, the Syrian secret service was on high alert. But he refused). [7], Following state-sponsored anti-Semitic attacks on its Jewish communities, many of them fled or were expelled, and Cohen was forced to leave the country in December 1956.
The Spy's Widow // After many decades, Nadia Cohen is keeping the Israel's minister of defense Pinhas Lavon and colonel Benyamin Gibli head of military intelligence, concocted a dangerous and foolish plan if several terrorist bombings were swept Egypt, the British will return to its former bases and concluded that Egypt's couldn't maintain law and order. 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. Cohen was born and raised in Egypt and was expelled to Israel in 1956. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. The complete trust Cohen enjoyed among his unwitting informants is illustrated by the following incident, which might have serious consequences for the Israeli agents. After several days, Eli got a new identity as Kamal Amin Tablet, son of Syrian parents, born in Beirut. Eli Cohen, Israels most famous spy, also happened to be a hopeless romantic. The Spy alternates between Cohens risky schemes with Nadias far more ordinary life. In the interview, she said that her husband left behind memoirs, notes and other evidence. After three months, Eli spoke passable Spanish, knew Buenos Aires well, dressed, and behaved like thousands of Arab immigrants living in Buenos Aires. Using Biton, Israel "fed" Egypt with false intelligence that reportedly contributed to the Six Day War victory. Elis connections enabled him to be taken to the Golan Heights a major strategic asset for Syria from 1948-67. 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.
Eli Cohen - Wikipedia [7][9] The Israel Defense Forces recruited him in 1957 and placed him in military intelligence, where he became a counter-intelligence analyst. When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. For his loyalties, Hafiz grooms Thaabet to be deputy defense minister in his government. Israel has had a quiet northern border on the Golan with the exception of some occasional fallout from the Syrian civil war for more than 40years. Fortunately, several were easy to spot, for they . Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. He wrote a last letter to his wife before he mounted the scaffold to a seething crowd.
Cohens contacts, nurtured through a string of lavish dinner parties, social occasions, and friendships with those in high places, led to invitations to visit Damascus and to set up a business venture there. In order to capture the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israeli soldiers had to knock out a number of well-fortified Syrian outposts. In November that year, Nadia, wrote to Syrian politician and former president of Syria (19712000) Hafez al-Assad, asking him to forgive Eli and requesting him to hand over her husbands remains. The Syrian project to divert water from the headwaters of the Jordan away from Israel was mentioned already in the above introduction. [34], The Israeli settlement Eliad on the Golan Heights is named for him.[35]. Sacha Baron Cohen-led limited series "The Spy" which comes out today on Netflix tells the true story of how famed Israeli Mossad agent Eli Cohen went undercover in 1960s Syria. [32], John Shea played Cohen in the television film The Impossible Spy (1987),[33] and Sacha Baron Cohen played him in the Netflix miniseries The Spy (2019). Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anythingDo what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. love of country, sacrifice and about his life and my life, my children." . At the age of 41, Cohen was hanged in Damascus in front of a crowd of 10,000. He then left the university and continued his studies at home. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. On April 15, 2019, a few Israeli news agencies published unconfirmed reports of Eli's remains being recovered in Syria and stated that the remains were with a Russian delegation. This is adefinitive andfinal verdict. This article was originally published in May 2005 and republished to coincide with the release of "The Spy" - a Netflix series about Eli Cohen's life. Cohen had aided the unit and was implicated, but they found no link between him and the perpetrators. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president. Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). Out of fear of being caught, Eli expressed his wish to visit Israel in November 1964, to pass on information and also witness the birth of his third child. Their youngest child, Shai, was only 21 days old then. . But his knowledge of. He died in 2009. In 1961, Eli was sent to Buenos Aires in the guise of a Syrian textile businessman. later he handed with Syrian passport in name of kamal Amin tabet, he advised to open a bank account in that name and start visiting Arab restaurants, the cinema where Arab movies are shown, and political club. Nadia, widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, reacts during an interview with Reuters in Herzliya, Israel October 6, 2019. . [26], Monthir Maosily, the former bureau chief of Hafez Al-Assad, claimed in August 2008 that the Syrians had buried him three times to stop the remains from being taken back to Israel via a special operation. Since then, Nadia has always counted on him. According to Scheffeldt, al-Gamal wrote in his memoirs of his friendship with Marcelle Ninio, who was sentenced to four years in prison for her role in the Jewish Underground, and also about Eli Cohen.
Eli Cohen's daughter lukewarm on 'The Spy,' but likes Sacha Baron Cohen 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]. However, running a double agent is considered to be one of the most complex missions in intelligence work. 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. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/eli-cohen-16869.php.
Steve Cohen's daughter Sophia splits from fianc - Page Six He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. 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? Based on the eucalyptus trees, Israel knew exactly where the Syrian fortifications were. Show creator Gideon Raff's limited series has brought renewed attention to the life and work of Eli Cohen. "I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has past," his final letter read.
The True Story Behind The Spy on Netflix | Time
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