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? 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. 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. This version contradicts that of Israel's secret service. [6] Cohen spoke five languages fluently. [29] Mossad director Yossi Cohen presented it to Cohen's family in a ceremony, and it is currently on display at Mossad headquarters. Eli was caught in the act and there was nothing he could do. A memorial stone has been erected in the 'Garden of the Missing Soldiers' in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, to commemorate him. "- From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. "It works with a range of international intelligence agencies,'' the NZSIS said in response. In his late teens, Cohen became an ardent Zionist and at the same time, as . They even started to organize a ceremony for Eli at the 'Mossad' headquarters in Glilot. 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. [8] His most famous achievement was the tour of the Golan Heights in which he collected intelligence on the Syrian fortifications there. Its waters flow into the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret) and south to the Dead Sea. 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. According to al-Gamal's version, he saw a photograph in an Arab newspaper at a newspaper stand in Frankfurt's train station that showed Amin Kamel Thabet touring fortifications on the Golan Heights with Syrian officers. Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anything. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. As Intelligence Chief Meir Amit said, Eli succeeded far beyond the capabilities of most other men.. Recruitment into the Mossad. Since 1992, the Golan has been up for discussion in the peace talks, but it strikes a very emotional chord among Israelis due to its historic and strategic significance, in addition to its natural beauty. tabet sends it to Argentina, where his friend dispatches them to Israel with a diplomatic pouch. Before he was executed, Cohen met with a rabbi, as per his request, and sent his wife a letter. On January 24, 1965, Syrian intelligence broke into his home in the middle of a transmission. The Arabs would have none of it and decided to divert the sources of the Jordan River which originated in Arab-held territory. In this way, the Arabs hoped to deprive Israel of the waters she would need for her national growth. Their youngest child, Shai, was only 21 days old then. 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. He would entertain high-ranking politicians and military officials at extravagant parties where there would be many women and lots of booze. As a young adult, he worked within Egypt to secretly assist other Egyptian Jews in emigrating to Israel. He arrived in Israel on February 8, 1957. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. He was a legend," I declare. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. Still Ben-Dor, who was four years old when her father was killed, said she was pleasantly surprised by actor Cohens portrayal. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president. Concentrate on yourself, looking forward for a better future! He was stunned by the precision of the Israeli bombing during the 1964 attack. References ^ Eli Cohen Knesset ^ Eli Cohen Ministry of Economy and Industry ^ Kulanu list Central Elections Committee "This cooperation brings significant benefits to New Zealand's national security, we help them (Mossad), and they help us," they added. 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. These skills were instrumental in ensuring the safety and survival of one Kamal Amin Taabet: Eli Cohens new identity. His last wish was to see a rabbi. Hence, Nissim Andabo, the elderly chief rabbi of Syria accompanied him to Marjeh Square.. This coincided with the continuance of Palestinian terrorist infiltrators arriving from the Syrian border, along with a continual flow of Soviet technical assistance to Syria. 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. 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.". "It was all for good intentions. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. Daniel Sonnenfeld,55 years after execution in Syria, Israeli spy Eli Cohen makes headlines,Jerusalem Post, February 27, 2021). With time he was taken even more into the confidence of the highest echelons of power. He made friends who moved in highly influential Syrian circles, transmitting his findings back to Israel via radio. 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. He had seventeen lovers in Syria, all dazzling beauties with a fair degree of family power. Eli hoped as did Israeli Intelligence that these women would help him escape in time of crisis.. 4 Min Read. All these years, I remained faithful to him. His final visit was in 1964. [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. [7][9], Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. Elis larger-than-life persona has attracted many filmmakers, who have then used his story for their projects. Eli married Iraqi Jewish Nadia Majald, sister of Hebrew author Sami Michael, in 1959. Two of them were Abraham and Maurice. when you were three, your family left Lebanon and moved to Egypt Alexandria. 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. 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. The location of Cohen's body remains unknown. Following Israel's independence in 1949, when Jewish families were leaving Egypt, Eli stayed back to finish his electronics degree. 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. [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. A number were only released 14 years later, after the 1967 War. After his execution, a white parchment filled with anti-Zionist writing was put on his body, and he was left hanging for six hours. The leading figure in the break-in was the head of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Suedani Elis nemesis. It takes just a few seconds. The Golan Heights defenses were top-secret and closed only to top military staff. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. Nadia Majald, and together they had three children. When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel, 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved, Sophie Ben-Dor (Screen capture: Channel 12 News), This undated photo shows Israeli spy Eli Cohen in Syria wearing a wristwatch recovered by the Mossad in 2018. [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. Eli found out about Syria's secret plan to attack the Israeli defense forces. He did not object, in fact, to the idea of a ladies man reputation. His successes couldn't be vocally shared with his family, however. Today, one can see the former Syrian bunkers that remain on the Golan Heights from 1967 (as well as the tanks from 1973). 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. He was sentenced to death. A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. Also in Episode 5, viewers see Hafiz assume power after demanding the resignation of Syria's then-president, Nazim al-Qudsi. Source:The Pedagogic Center, The Department for Jewish Zionist Education, The Jewish Agency for Israel, (c) 1992-2007. Ben-Dor was pessimistic that Israel would soon be able to retrieve her fathers body from Syria. Earlier communication between the alleged son and the intelligence agency reveals Al-Hafidh was adamant on receiving the money. Eli has been honored as an Israeli national hero, and many streets and neighborhoods have been named after him. They warned me not to discuss the issue with Eli anymore and to share his secret with no one.". Returning to Nadia is Cohens ultimate goal. The following year, Syria found out about Cohen by tracing his intelligence transmissions to Israel. 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. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Israeli ambassador, Itzhak Gerberg, would not comment on the report. Eli was, however, persuaded continuously by Israeli intelligence agencies to return to Syria. In January 1965, Syrian government officials announced that Eli is an Israeli spy. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. 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 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. . Military Stories site will provide you the latest News related to military. In The Spy, based on the true story of Israeli agent Eli Cohen, comic actor Sacha Baron Cohen takes on a serious role, playing the title character. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. The new Ba'ath government initially installed Lu'ay al-Atassi as president in March 1963. 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. 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.. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. But he spent most of his time in Tel Aviv perfecting his cover and being briefed on Amans requirements of him in Syria, as well as last-minute intelligence data needed for his mission. His success in effectively penetrating the Syrian social and political/diplomatic/military strata already wildly exceeded Amans expectations of him, Cohen arrived in Damascus in February 1962, posing as a businessman from Argentina who had returned to his native land. To no avail. 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. At the same time, Israeli officials devised escape schemes and appealed to international organizations. 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. He was caught and sentenced to death. Nadia wishes to be buried beside Elis grave. In 1954, the British pull out of Egypt completely. 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. Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife.
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