In 1957, Eli joined the Israel Defense Forces as a counterintelligence analyst and later applied for the Israeli intelligence agency 'Mossad,' which rejected him. Eli was, however, taken in by 'Mossad' when Director-General Meir Amit was in search of a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government. Eli found out about Syria's secret plan to attack the Israeli defense forces. Cohen wasnt allowed tell anyone of the plans and told his wife that he was working abroad for Israels Defense Ministry. In 1960, the national intelligence agency of Israel, 'Mossad,' approached Eli for a classified mission in Syria. [9] The governments of Belgium, Canada, and France tried to persuade the Syrian government to commute the death sentence,[25] but the Syrians refused. Eli Cohen was the man for the job. A memorial stone has been erected in the 'Garden of the Missing Soldiers' in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, to commemorate him. Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? I beg my wife to forgive me, to take care of herself and our children. He had been repeatedly interrogated and tortured. But he refused). Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924, the second of eight children in a family of orthodox Jews. From 1948 until 1967, Syria firing mortar shells from the Syrian occupied Golan Heights into the Jewish settlements of the Upper Galilee below. Cohen immigrated to Israel in 1957 and was recruited by Military Intelligence, to a unit that later became part of the Mossad. A month later, a Syrian officer would say that one of Israel's attack architects had been Eli Cohen, who was in Israel during the battle. Hes a trusted friend.. [9], In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935,[10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. 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.". Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: Netflix drama 'raises my blood pressure' The Baath party was rising to power and Eli Cohen wanted to be there when it took power. Eli Cohen was now a member of the inner circle of power. Eli seemed to have completed the final stage in establishing his network. 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. Their youngest child, Shai, was only 21 days old then. He had three brothers. 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. Eli visited other Arab friends as Abdel Latif Hassan and his briefcase was full of enthusiastic letters of recommendation. 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. It was hard to see the distance from the truth in some parts of the series, Sophie Ben-Dor said in an interview with Channel 12 news. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen, place of death: Al Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria, See the events in life of Eli Cohen in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubQ6b-9OewI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ9cUmvkgmg. Nadia Cohen, widow of executed Israeli spy Eli Cohen, speaks to Channel 2 on September 20, 2016 after Syrian opposition forces release new video showing moments after he was hanged in. All these years, I remained faithful to him. Eli kept transmitting reports of a military character, top military orders, reports on new weapons to Israel. On January 25, 2000, Nadia presented a picture of a new postage stamp with Elis face, to Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, honoring her husband. When the Baath took power in 1963, Eli was firmly entrenched in Syrian high society. According to his fictional biography, in 1948 the family moved to Argentina, where they opened a successful textile business. Kamal Amin Taabets (Eli Cohen) return to Syria would ostensibly be the fulfillment of a lifelong patriotic dream. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. They observed a period of radio silence, in the hope that any illegal transmissions could be identified. The message was passed on to the Syrians, who arrested Cohen. try to make as many friends as possible, and establish contact with Arab leaders. Eli Cohen | My Jewish Learning The spy who never came home - The Jewish Chronicle "My darling Nadia, and my dear family,I am writing you these last words, minutes before my end, with the hope that you stay together forever.I beg my wife to forgive me, to take care of herself and our children. also learned to identify the type and age of tanks, aircraft, and cannons. [7][9] The Israel Defense Forces recruited him in 1957 and placed him in military intelligence, where he became a counter-intelligence analyst. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur, Defense Minister Ezer Weizmann, and many Mossad officials attended Eli's son's bar mitzvah in 1977. 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. He was stunned by the precision of the Israeli bombing during the 1964 attack. "There was great excitement because it is essentially the only item of dad that came back, we have nothing. According to an unconfirmed but widely believed story, he feigned sympathy for the soldiers exposed to the sun and had trees planted at every position, placed to provide shade. (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. Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife. At these parties, Cohen "dispensed free-flowing liquor and prostitutes",[1] and highly placed officials would openly discuss their work and army plans. He was also allowed to write a final letter to his wife. 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. By 1960, however, Israeli Intelligence was ready to take another look at Eli Cohen. 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. [5] He studied at Cairo Farouk University. In 1963, new Ramdas replaced Meir Amit for a few months in charge of both a man and Mossad. In August 2008, Assad's former bureau chief, Monthir Maosily, revealed that Eli had been buried thrice and that Israel would never receive his body. This material may not be republished without the permission of the copyright owner. he goes abroad for business and meets Nadia and Sophie in Bat Yam. Eli Cohen (politician born 1972) - Wikipedia Nadia, widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, reacts during an interview with Reuters in Herzliya, Israel October 6, 2019. . [12][16], In 2016, a Syrian group calling itself "Syrian art treasures" posted a video on Facebook showing Cohen's body after his execution. Al-Gamal rushed to inform his superiors that Thabet was none other than Eli Cohen, the Alexandrian Jew. After some months, Abdel Latif Hassan introduces Eli to General Amin El-Hafez, the military attache at the embassy. Periodically Eli would return to Israel to speak with his Israeli handlers and visit his wife and small children. 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. [24], Following the 1963 Syrian coup d'tat, newly appointed Syrian Intelligence Colonel Ahmed Suidani disliked Cohen and did not trust figures close to the Second Syrian Republic. "I am the son of the only person on this planet who knows where the remains are buried," he told Newshub in an interview. Elis larger-than-life persona has attracted many filmmakers, who have then used his story for their projects. 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 soon became accepted, well-liked, and respected, and made contacts with politicians, diplomats and military officials working out of the Syrian Embassy. 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. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 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. "I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has past," his final letter read. Returning to Nadia is Cohens ultimate goal. 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. Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). 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. His work bored him and he attempted to join the Mossad, but he was offended when the Mossad rejected him, and he resigned from military counter-intelligence. 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.". 'The Spy' Creator Gideon Raff on the True, 'Heartbreaking' Love Story Ben-Dor was pessimistic that Israel would soon be able to retrieve her fathers body from Syria. had 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. However, Eli's loyalty was scrutinized, and he faced harassment by the 'Muslim Brotherhood.' Again, I. This helped the army win the Six-Day War and capture the Golan Heights. children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxhaPGREa74. they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant. Eli did go back to Syria, but his behavior changed. He was eventually exposed and captured by Syrian Intelligence in 1965, sentenced to death and hung at Damascus' main square. [6] Cohen spoke five languages fluently. But in 1965, he was unmasked. [27] Syrian authorities have repeatedly denied family requests for the remains. But in 2018, Cohens watch was retrieved in a secret Mossad scheme. Warning: This article contains spoilers for all six episodes of The Spy. He worked as an accountant. "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. Cohen wrote in his final letter on 15 May 1965:[7]. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (Hebrew: , Arabic: ; 6 December 1924 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. It was after Atassi resigned on July 27 that Hafiz was named president. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. you lived with your uncle and worked as a travel agency, later were very successful. When Intelligence came by a second time, he jumped at it. love of country, sacrifice and about his life and my life, my children." . He would entertain high-ranking politicians and military officials at extravagant parties where there would be many women and lots of booze. To establish his cover, Cohen moved to Buenos Aires in 1961. In December 1956, the Jewish Agency assisted Eli to deport to Israel in a vessel. one evening he met one gentleman, Abdel Latif Hassan, editor in chief of Arab world magazine publish in Argentina. [28] The press announced on 5 July 2018 that Cohen's wristwatch had been retrieved from Syria. In a display of generosity, the tabet contributed some money to build a public kitchen for the poor of Damascus. Eli Cohen, Israels most famous spy, also happened to be a hopeless romantic. "The moment that they informed me [of the watch's recovery] my mouth went dry and I got the chills," Nadia told Israeli TV. His successes couldn't be vocally shared with his family, however. Various reports say that Biton was unveiled and offered the option of becoming a double agent. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. The crime of obtaining secret information is kept hidden to ensure the safety of the country to benefit the enemy. In February 1962, Cohen moved to Damascus. Based on the eucalyptus trees, Israel knew exactly where the Syrian fortifications were. Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. Israel could be the target of an aggressive attack by a larger, better Egyptian army that wanted to avenge its shameful defect in the Israel Independence War. The newly appointed Syrian intelligence colonel, Ahmed Su'edani, disliked Eli. Nadia believed it and went to see him off at the airport in 1961. They had a son, Daniel, and after the Six Day War they celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. [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). Cohen accepted the calling. Speaking to Cohen's brother, and to Israeli and Syrian intelligence experts, Sputnik has pieced together a new look at the superspy's incredible life story. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. - From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. He made friends who moved in highly influential Syrian circles, transmitting his findings back to Israel via radio. In 1960, Cohen was approached by the Mossad for a mission in Syria. "We have six grandchildren," she says with pride as she points to a family photo on the wall. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Kamal Amin Taabet (also called Tabas in some sources) was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Syrian Muslim parents. Nadia wishes to be buried beside Elis grave. Cohen's brothers Abraham and Maurice led a campaign to return his remains; Maurice died in 2006, and Nadia now leads it. But his knowledge of. There he met members of the Jewish Underground, handled by Unit 131 of Israel's Military Intelligence, which was exposed by the Egyptians in 1954. Syria has not even disclosed the location of Eli's grave. The leading figure in the break-in was the head of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Suedani Elis nemesis. The TV film 'The Impossible Spy' (1987) chronicled Eli's life. In November 1965, Eli's wife wrote to Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad, requesting him to send Elis remains back to Israel. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. Its unfamiliar to me, this form of expression in a global television series. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. At the beginning of the 1956 War, when Israel occupied the Sinai, Eli Cohen was detained by the Egyptian authorities, and was expelled from Egypt along with the remainder of Alexandrian Jews at the end of the war. "I have passed your response to our partners and am waiting for a reply," said the agent. But within a month he had lost his Tel Aviv-based accountancy job. Eli told Nadia that he got a job with a company that works with defense and foreign ministries, he needs to travel to Europe to buy tools and equipment, and materials for Israel's military. [18], Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions. Spy Eli Cohen Wife Love Story, American History Has Been Whitewashed, But, Black Teen Girls On TV Are A Mess Finally. Another tutor trained him to speak Arabic. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. Unending Agony for Legendary Spy Eli Cohen and His Widow 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. Eli Cohenalso learned to identify the type and age of tanks, aircraft, and cannons. To no avail. 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. 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. The True Story Behind The Spy on Netflix | Time 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. His captors later remarked on his noble bearing and his courage despite the horrific Syrian interrogation methods. The actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has a . It takes just a few seconds. 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. Eli was brutally tortured and interrogated before he was publicly hanged on May 18, 1965, at the Marjeh Square in Damascus. And much of the credit for Israels ability to capture the Golan was due to Eli Cohen, Israels greatest spy. [12], He was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina. After several days, Eli got a new identity as. [8], Cohen was found guilty of espionage by a military tribunal and sentenced to death under martial law. Because of that, perhaps he just tired of the whole charade. In 1961, Eli was sent to Buenos Aires in the guise of a Syrian textile businessman. A number were only released 14 years later, after the 1967 War. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. In February 2007, the Turkish government offered to act as a mediator for their return. In 1954, Egyptian authorities arrested Eli for being a terror suspect. The Golan Heights defenses were top-secret and closed only to top military staff. In 1965, the Syrian secret service was on high alert. Where Is Nadia Cohen Now? Spy Eli Cohen Wife Love Story - Refinery29 your father and uncle opened a textile store, but it went bankrupt your father died in 1956 and six months later your mother died too. This is adefinitive andfinal verdict. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. After the Israel Independence War In 1954, the British pull out of Egypt completely. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. He made friends with many of the guests and ended up receiving classified military briefings and visiting Syrian military sites. After Hafez became Prime Minister, Eli was even considered to be named the Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen heads to Germany Tuesday as part of Israel's campaign to halt Iran's . Al-Hafidh then sent his bank details, but the deal went cold. Get email notification for articles from Yossi Melman, Reproduction of an Israeli stamp being issued to honour the Mossad intelligence agency spy Eli Cohen who was hanged in Damascus. On January 24, 1965, Syrian intelligence broke into his home in the middle of a transmission. However, running a double agent is considered to be one of the most complex missions in intelligence work. 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. 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. Last year, Israel was able to retrieve Cohens wristwatch from Syria and return it to his family. For 19 years, Jewish settlements in the north were under constant threat of Syrian guns. Nadia, understandably, has remained fixated on her loss. That is, until Meir Dagan took over as chief. 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. Military Stories site will provide you the latest News related to military. [31] A memorial stone has been erected to Cohen in the Garden of the Missing Soldiers in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem. Israel could not survive without Jordan's water. Incorrect password. "Soon after, my commanding officers summoned me to my base and informed me that Eli had spoken to them about the phone number incident. [13][14] In Buenos Aires he moved among the Arab community, letting it be known he had large amounts of money to put at the disposal of the Syrian Ba'ath Party. Decades after the Eli Cohen affair there are still many questions, some minor, others major - among them, the way in which Syrian counterintelligence identified the Israeli spy (from the archive). 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. Israeli spy's widow 'hurt' by Netflix biopic, but welcomes publicity Elis connections enabled him to be taken to the Golan Heights a major strategic asset for Syria from 1948-67. He also held parties at his home for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others. For two weeks Cohen was put under surveillance and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. 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. They had a son, Daniel, and after the Six Day War they celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 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. He ultimately complied. He would also lend money to government officials, and many came to him for advice. Intelligence created a completely new identity for him. 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. "It was all for good intentions. 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. Meir even appealed to the Soviet Union. Others have attributed the carelessness to an almost suicidal tendency perhaps, it was later surmised, he had been in the undercover world too long, but knew he couldnt get out of it. It also provides 30% of Israels water sources. 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. One of his friends found a new job as an accountant, month later he Marty with Nadia, a nurse of Iraqi origin. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy - San Diego Jewish World Elis friendship with Amin al-Hafez proved very valuable. His last wish was to see a rabbi. Hence, Nissim Andabo, the elderly chief rabbi of Syria accompanied him to Marjeh Square.. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. become close friends. Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: 'When he was caught, something died It hurt. From the creation of Israel through, the present day, Syria has been one, if not the most, implacable of Israels enemies. The Spy, a six-part Netflix miniseries about Cohen's life, showcases the legendary Mossad agent's relationship with his wife, Nadia (Hadar Ratzon Rotem). In 1951, he was arrested and interrogated over his Jewish and Zionist activities that he was carrying out under the tutelage of Alexandria's chief rabbi. He had also participated in various Israeli furtive operations in the country during the 1950s. Eli was arrested but soon released due to a lack of evidence. 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 Syrias Jewish community, in particular.. The Golan is not only important for its military significance. Melita Norwood | longest-serving British spy | Melita Norwood Book, Death, Family, Daughter | melita norwood images. By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. one after the other 69 people were arrested. Two of them were Abraham and Maurice. He had an input into and an impact on Syrian national defense and was privy to almost all their secrets. 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. Still, Israeli Intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. Over the years, Nadia has made several efforts to seek a bit of mercy from Syrian officials. Eli was, however, persuaded continuously by Israeli intelligence agencies to return to Syria. One of the ministrys directors entered the room unannounced. Daniel Sonnenfeld,55 years after execution in Syria, Israeli spy Eli Cohen makes headlines,Jerusalem Post, February 27, 2021). 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. Cohen would then send intelligence back to Israel using a hidden radio transmitter. In 1963, during a business trip to Germany, he met Weltrude Scheffeldt, a divorcee, then 22 and with a small child, and married her. Eli Cohen was born in Egypt in 1924 to Jewish parents, who had migrated to Alexandria from Syria. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He says the spies wanted him to try and talk to his father's close friends or provide insight. The Syrian officer readily agreed and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. Irit does not know her father. He died in 2009. 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. For his loyalties, Hafiz grooms Thaabet to be deputy defense minister in his government. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. Following Israel's independence in 1949, when Jewish families were leaving Egypt, Eli stayed back to finish his electronics degree.
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