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He was caught and sentenced to death. 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. Thats why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. By 1960, however, Israeli Intelligence was ready to take another look at Eli Cohen. [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. Did you spend your weekend binge-watching Netflix's taut thriller, The Spy? Last Friday marked the 53rd anniversary of the execution of Eli Cohen, the Egyptian-born Israeli spy who burrowed his way so deep into the Syrian state apparatus he nearly came to head it. The Spy is streaming globally on Netflix. At the end of 1961, Syria dissolved its union with Egypt, which had lasted a mere three years. 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. He was eventually exposed and captured by Syrian Intelligence in 1965, sentenced to death and hung at Damascus' main square. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. 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. 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 of them was Colonel Amin al-Hafaz, a supporter of the secular-leftist Baath party. He had an input into and an impact on Syrian national defense and was privy to almost all their secrets. After three months, Eli spoke passable Spanish, knew Buenos Aires well, dressed, and behaved like thousands of Arab immigrants living in Buenos Aires. 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. Cohen accepted the calling. Using Biton, Israel "fed" Egypt with false intelligence that reportedly contributed to the Six Day War victory. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. 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. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. His captors later remarked on his noble bearing and his courage despite the horrific Syrian interrogation methods. Years later, in February 2007, a Turkish official confirmed that the government had agreed to look into the matter of returning Eli's remains to his family. Israel tried to obtain the cooperation of her Arab neighbors for the plan, but the Arabs would not agree, even when the United States tried to use its diplomatic leverage for the furtherance of the plan. This week, KAN 11 began broadcasting a documentary series "Lochem 566," (Fighter 566, Cohen's Mossad codename). He then underwent a show trial, like the Operation Susannah spies had in Egypt 12 years before., Like them, his verdict was predetermined. He has reached the apex of success, and it seems that there is no door he can't open. He was supposed to stay in Buenos Aires as a Syrian migr businessman named Kamal Amin Taabet. In early 1961, Chaim Herzog, Chief of Military Intelligence and later president of Israel, signed the document authorizing Cohens use as a spy. Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. 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. 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. "It was all for good intentions. 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. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (Hebrew: , Arabic: ; 6 December 1924 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. thus Israel needed an agent in Damascus (Sami Micheal, Nadia Cohen's brother was recruited. [34], The Israeli settlement Eliad on the Golan Heights is named for him.[35]. he soon became a well-known figure in the Arab circle. Eli was, however, taken in by 'Mossad' when Director-General Meir Amit was in search of a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government. "Suddenly something changed there toward us. It went wrong, really wrong," he said. His fathers name was Amin Taabet, and his mothers Saadia Ibrahim. [12][16], In 2016, a Syrian group calling itself "Syrian art treasures" posted a video on Facebook showing Cohen's body after his execution. [11] Start with Mossad [ edit] Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. 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. Sacha Baron Cohen, the Mossad and Netflix. Last year, Israel was able to retrieve Cohens wristwatch from Syria and return it to his family. The Israeli government and Cohens widow have for many years sought the return of Elis body. That is, until Meir Dagan took over as chief. They even started to organize a ceremony for Eli at the 'Mossad' headquarters in Glilot. Haaretz.com, the online English edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, gives you breaking news, analyses and opinions about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World. Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future!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 motherPlease pray for my soul. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. He became far less careful in his transmissions to Israel, sometimes calling once or even twice a day and almost always at the same time, at 8:30 in the morning. Eli studied at a local Jewish community school and then attended the 'University of Alexandria' to study electrical engineering. The president was ousted from power a year later in 1966. their chief noticed that their decision taken by the government was broadcast to Israel. But the series did not give al-Gamal enough credit, she said, and this led her to reveal his memoirs, which he wrote in secret and deposited with a lawyer for safekeeping. The following year, Syria found out about Cohen by tracing his intelligence transmissions to Israel. Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. He returned home to his family only a few times during his mission. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. In the 1987 TV movie 'The Impossible Spy,' Michal Bat-Adam portrayed Nadia, while in the 2019 'Netflix' series 'The Spy,' Hadar Ratzon-Rotem played her, with Sacha Baron Cohen as Eli. Recruitment into the Mossad. 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. Eli married Iraqi Jewish Nadia Majald, sister of Hebrew author Sami Michael, in 1959. After the Israel Independence War In 1954, the British pull out of Egypt completely. Eli Cohenbecame certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. Al-Hafidh wanted a million dollars for his services, texting: "1M for the minimum for kick start. In January 1965, Syrian security services broke into Eli's apartment, where he was caught while he was escaping to Israel. 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. The Spy alternates between Cohens risky schemes with Nadias far more ordinary life. Israel has for decades worked to retrieve his remains. He was stunned by the precision of the Israeli bombing during the 1964 attack. Cohen's training was long and exhausting. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. On January 24, 1965, Syrian intelligence broke into his home in the middle of a transmission. The execution was recorded on 35mm film. they carry out several bombings in Cairo and Alexandria, targeting libraries and cultural centers, cinemas, post offices. His remains have yet to be returned, despite pleas from his family. Eli found out about Syria's secret plan to attack the Israeli defense forces. All these years, I remained faithful to him. Still, Israeli Intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. They were caught spying for Israel in 1953 and some of them were hanged. One day Cohen was sitting in Saifs office reading a classified document while the Syrian was on the phone. He set up a travel agency in Tel Aviv and developed ties with the upper echelons of Israeli society, including politicians. The execution was broadcast on Syrian television. 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. 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. He was quickly able to infiltrate the highest levels of Syrian society. Military Stories site will provide you the latest News related to military. Al-Hafidh claims he was in negotiations with the Mossad to reveal the information, but wanted $1million for his services which the intelligence agency refused to pay. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president. He also held parties at his home for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. As Intelligence Chief Meir Amit said, Eli succeeded far beyond the capabilities of most other men.. The 2019 'Netflix' miniseries 'The Spy' had actor Sacha Baron Cohen portraying Eli. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. His last wish was to see a rabbi. Hence, Nissim Andabo, the elderly chief rabbi of Syria accompanied him to Marjeh Square.. He also requested her to remarry so that their children would have a father and she would have a partner. The goal was to gather intelligence from high-ranking Syrian politicians and military officials. tabet sends it to Argentina, where his friend dispatches them to Israel with a diplomatic pouch. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/eli-cohen-16869.php. She had no idea about Elis secret mission and thus did not see the threats and risks involved. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Israeli ambassador, Itzhak Gerberg, would not comment on the report. [9], Cohen continued his social life as he had in Argentina, spending time in cafes listening to political gossip. Employment was not always steady, and he soon had to rely more on Nadia to help support their marriage, which would quickly lead to children. Eli Cohen was the man for the job. [28] The press announced on 5 July 2018 that Cohen's wristwatch had been retrieved from Syria. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. [7][9] The Israel Defense Forces recruited him in 1957 and placed him in military intelligence, where he became a counter-intelligence analyst. The Spy, which was released Friday, tells the story of Cohen, who spied for Israel in Syria during the 1960s, providing valuable intelligence that was said to have greatly assisted the Israeli military in the 1967 Six Day War. He was interrogated and tortured. also learned to identify the type and age of tanks, aircraft, and cannons. In the final episode of The Spy, Cohen's brother Maurice, a Mossad analyst, confronts him after discovering he is the secret Agent 88 in Damascus. But as with all fictional works that derive from real-life events, The Spy, perhaps for reasons ranging from time constraints to story relevance, omits some points in Cohen's story. [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. For his loyalties, Hafiz grooms Thaabet to be deputy defense minister in his government. [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.