He then left the university and continued his studies at home. His remains have yet to be returned, despite pleas from his family. At the same time, Israeli officials devised escape schemes and appealed to international organizations. As a young adult, he worked within Egypt to secretly assist other Egyptian Jews in emigrating to Israel. In 1954, Egyptian authorities arrested Eli for being a terror suspect. He made friends with many of the guests and ended up receiving classified military briefings and visiting Syrian military sites. She smiles. 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. Cohen's astonishing undercover career lasted for four years. [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. Eli Cohen was the man for the job. He worked as an accountant and translator. Incorrect password. soon Israel's tanks and cannon riposted with heavy fire, and minutes later mirage pounded the Syrian position and blasted the cannon of Syria that was dug. 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. In a display of generosity, the tabet contributed some money to build a public kitchen for the poor of Damascus. The film featured John Shea as Eli. In 'The Spy,' Sacha Baron Cohen Gets Serious : NPR Various reports say that Biton was unveiled and offered the option of becoming a double agent. In the name of the Syrian Arab people, The Military court has decided in its meeting which was held on Muharram 7th, 1385 - May 8th, 1965 to sentence Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen, a resident of Tel Aviv in Occupied Palestine, to death for committing the following crimes: The crime of disguised entry into a military location. Irit does not know her father. [18], Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions. The daughter of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen said Sunday it hurt to watch the new Netflix series about her fathers life and execution in Syria, lamenting some historical inaccuracies in the adaptation but praising Sacha Baron Cohens performance. Spouse/Ex-: Eli Cohen (m. 1959-1965) children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen Born Country: Iraq Family Members Iraqi Female Life with Eli Nadia (born Nadia Majald) is an Iraqi Jew who got married to Eli on August 31, 1959. If indeed Biton was a double agent - and Israeli intelligence prides itself on the quality of his work - then it is difficult to believe that he exposed Cohen. Sacha Baron Cohen in 'The Spy' as Eli Cohen. I think as long as Bashar Assad is in power I dont see the word progress,' she said, referring to Syrias dictator. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. 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). 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. "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? He was driven to the airport, where his wife Nadia saw him off. Still, the memory of those domestic joys sustains Cohen while hes away. 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. Eli Cohen Wife, Children | Israeli Spy biography | Last Letter to his Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future! 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. The spy who never came home - The Jewish Chronicle Warning: This post contains spoilers for The Spy. Eli's second instructor Yehuda taught him how to use a small, sophisticated radio transmitter. 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. 'Disturbing' footage emerges from famed Israeli spy's execution in For two weeks Cohen was put under surveillance and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. In 1965, the Syrian secret service was on high alert. Qudsi was ousted from power as a result of the March 8 coup, but Hafiz did not take power until months later. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Israels defense planners urgently needed reliable intelligence on the scope of the water diversion project engineering plans, diagrams, maps, and other data and up-to-the-minute assessments of Soviet influence in the Syrian capital, as well as detailed information on plans for the modernization, equipping, and retraining of Syrian forces. Eli Cohen was the man for the job. I am writing you these last words, minutes before my end, with the hope that you stay together forever. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Cohen was then informed that Mossad had decided to recruit him and underwent an intensive six-month course at the Mossad training school. Over the years, her relationship with the Mossad and that of her children, Sophie Ben-Dor, Irit Peleg and Shai Cohen, unraveled. Cohen wasnt allowed tell anyone of the plans and told his wife that he was working abroad for Israels Defense Ministry. "Their ages range from four and a half to 32." "You must be very proud," I offer. In January 1965, Syrian security officers broke into Elis apartment while he was in the middle of his escape to Israel. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. 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. 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. A number were only released 14 years later, after the 1967 War. Eli Cohen (politician born 1972) - Wikipedia In 1949, his parents and three brothers moved to Israel while Eli remained in Egypt to coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities there. 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. This material may not be republished without the permission of the copyright owner. The president was ousted from power a year later in 1966. [11] Start with Mossad [ edit] [8] His most famous achievement was the tour of the Golan Heights in which he collected intelligence on the Syrian fortifications there. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. It is for these reasons Eli Cohen is known as Israels greatest spy. The border with Syria was heating up as well. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. 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. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. In 1960, Cohen was approached by the Mossad for a mission in Syria. 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 still holds a grudge against the 'Mossad' handlers who had sent Eli to Syria, an action that had taken him away from her, forever. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/nadia-cohen-46980.php. He had three brothers. 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. He was sent to Argentina, where he took on the guise of a businessman, scion of a Syrian family. The Spy sees a friendship blossoming between Eli Cohen and Amin al-Hafiz, the future president of Syria, that begins as Cohen first goes undercover as Thaabet in Buenos Aires and mutually benefits them both for yearsright through to Cohen's discovery as an Israeli spy and subsequent execution. click the link in that email to complete your registration. A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. But in 2018, Cohens watch was retrieved in a secret Mossad scheme. . The Story of Eli Cohen, the Israeli Superspy Who Almost Became Syria's Al-Hafidh then sent his bank details, but the deal went cold. His fathers name was Amin Taabet, and his mothers Saadia Ibrahim. Recruitment into the Mossad. Eli started transmitting his message to Israel daily at 8 a.m. After six months kamal Amin tabet become well known. However, running a double agent is considered to be one of the most complex missions in intelligence work. [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. He remembered and passed on to Israeli Intelligence the positioning of every Syrian gun, trench, and machine-gun nest in each Golan Heights fortification; tank traps, designed to impede any Israeli attack, were also identified and memorized for future targeting.. 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. Eli Cohenalso learned to identify the type and age of tanks, aircraft, and cannons. 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. His training was extensive and exhaustive. "I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has past," his final letter read. Thanks". Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: 'When he was caught, something died 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. 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. Returning to Nadia is Cohens ultimate goal. Unending Agony for Legendary Spy Eli Cohen and His Widow Instead, he joined the Egyptian merchant marine and was involved in a number of scams, which resulted in his arrest by the Egyptian secret service in 1952. He had been repeatedly interrogated and tortured. In March 1963, General Hafez, Eli's friend was appointed minister of defense in salah Al-Birat's cabinet. Intelligence created a completely new identity for him. 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. At this time the Ba'ath Party was illegal in Syria but the party seized power in 1963. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. Once registered, youll receive our Daily Edition email for free. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, Cohen publicly hanged in the Marjeh Square, The Pedagogic Center, The Department for Jewish Zionist Education, The Jewish Agency for Israel, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. he goes abroad for business and meets Nadia and Sophie in Bat Yam. Israeli foreign minister Golda Meir led a campaign urging Damascus to consider the consequences of hanging him. The Syrian officer readily agreed and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. Elis friendship with Amin al-Hafez proved very valuable. 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. Unfortunately, Nadia and her family are still waiting to get Elis body and have not made peace with it. They warned me not to discuss the issue with Eli anymore and to share his secret with no one.". "This cooperation brings significant benefits to New Zealand's national security, we help them (Mossad), and they help us," they added. Eli Cohen was born in Egypt in 1924 to Jewish parents, who had migrated to Alexandria from Syria. Cohen would pretend to be drunk to encourage such conversations, to which he paid close attention. Israeli intelligence was particularly excited about Cohen . The purposes of that visit were to pass on intelligence and to enable him to witness the birth of his third child. On January 24, 1965, Syrian intelligence broke into his home in the middle of a transmission. Elis connections enabled him to be taken to the Golan Heights a major strategic asset for Syria from 1948-67. 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. In the show, Cohenas Thaabetbefriends Hafiz in Buenos Aires and later in Damascus helps Hafiz's Ba'ath party seize power. She has pleaded for years and is still waiting to receive Eli's body. 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. 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. 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. they suspect on a tablet but they verify the Tibet's transmission two times at 8 am precisely they broke into the tablet home, Eli was caught red-handed in the transmission. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen heads to Germany Tuesday as part of Israel's campaign to halt Iran's . Again, I. Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. 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. 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. [9], Cohen continued his social life as he had in Argentina, spending time in cafes listening to political gossip. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. 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. For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office. He worked as an accountant and translator. Diplomats, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and Pope Paul VI tried to intercede. He was quickly able to infiltrate the highest levels of Syrian society. In February 1961 one man handed him an Israeli passport in his real name and a plane ticket to Zurich.on his arrival, Eli was met by a white-haired man who gave him a passport from another name, that passport carried an entry visa to chile and a transit visa to Argentina. They observed a period of radio silence, in the hope that any illegal transmissions could be identified. 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 Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924, the second of eight children in a family of orthodox Jews. One day they took Eli to visit the Syrian positions along Israel's border. The Golan Heights defenses were top-secret and closed only to top military staff. Eli Cohen was sent to Syria as an undercover agent, and he turned out to be the greatest spy to date. By Lianne Back. A memorial stone has been erected in the 'Garden of the Missing Soldiers' in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, to commemorate him. On August 31, 1959, he married a beautiful Iraqi-born Jew, Nadia Majald. 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. 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.. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. In 1954, the British pull out of Egypt completely. Nadia believed it and went to see him off at the airport in 1961. Al-Gamal was born in 1927 and aspired to become an actor. He ultimately complied. (Haim Zach/GPO). And much of the credit for Israels ability to capture the Golan was due to Eli Cohen, Israels greatest spy. 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 When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. Nadia was told that Eli was working for the ministry of defense and would be completely safe. In 1960, the national intelligence agency of Israel, 'Mossad,' approached Eli for a classified mission in Syria. I hope, pray, that he will be returned home by the time I die," Nadia told Haaretz in 2010. they carry out several bombings in Cairo and Alexandria, targeting libraries and cultural centers, cinemas, post offices. Nadia, widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, reacts during an interview with Reuters in Herzliya, Israel October 6, 2019. . (PMO), Sacha Baron Cohen as Israeli spy Eli Cohen in The Spy (YouTube screenshot), Mossad spy Eli Cohen, executed in Syria in 1965. He organized several protest campaigns against the British rule. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. 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. 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. Israel has for decades worked to retrieve his remains. 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. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Eli has been honored as an Israeli national hero, and many streets and neighborhoods have been named after him. I am begging you my dear Nadia not to spend your time in weeping about some thing already passed. Cohen's training was long and exhausting. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. Eli Cohen The Most Successful Name in The History of Espionage Cohen had aided the unit and was implicated, but they found no link between him and the perpetrators. Eli, who would feign intoxication, remained sober and listened carefully., In addition to providing loans to government officials and acting as an avid host, he was asked for advice by government officials, who were often intoxicated by the alcohol he freely provided. Over the years, Nadia has made several efforts to seek a bit of mercy from Syrian officials. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. The agent replied: "Will do, thanks K". Eli's handlers were continually persuading him to return. The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy - San Diego Jewish World 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. he transfers all operations to Mossad, Eli was now Mossad agent. 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. Al-Gamal, for his part, adopted the Jewish identity of Jacques Biton and immigrated to Israel from France on the orders of Egyptian intelligence. Meir even appealed to the Soviet Union. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. "I am the son of the only person on this planet who knows where the remains are buried," he told Newshub in an interview. Reports earlier this year said a Russian delegation had removed his remains from Syria in an attempt to bring them to Israel. On May 18, 1965, Eli was publicly hanged at the Marjeh Square in Damascus, Syria. He escaped punishment due to lack of evidence. He set up a travel agency in Tel Aviv and developed ties with the upper echelons of Israeli society, including politicians. "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. Nine months later, in late 1961, Eli came back to Israel for a visit with his wife Nadia. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. 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. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. Where Is Nadia Cohen Now? Spy Eli Cohen Wife Love Story - Refinery29 [5] He studied at Cairo Farouk University. Eli Cohen (pictured, at center) was born in Egypt in 1924 to Jewish parents who had immigrated to Alexandria from Aleppo, Syria. For his loyalties, Hafiz grooms Thaabet to be deputy defense minister in his government. The three major tributaries of the upper Jordan River the Dan, the Baniyas, and the Hatzbani all originate in the Golan. they made great efforts to locate the secret transmission to Israel with help of Soviet-made equipment, in January 1965 they got success.
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