After several days, Eli got a new identity as Kamal Amin Tablet, son of Syrian parents, born in Beirut. In 2016, Nadia told 'Israel Radio' that former 'Mossad' chief Meir Dagan had asked the US officials to help bring Elis remains. China Offering Cutting Edge Type 052D Destroyers For Export: Are Algeria and Russia its Most lIkely Clients? He genuinely fit into life in the Syrian capital, and he was never suspected of being a spy until almost the very end. I give you my blessing. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. Eli Cohenarrived in Buenos Aires and checked into a hotel .a local teacher would get in touch with him and teach him the Spanish language. Kamal Amin Tabet hosted a glamorous party in Damascus, several ministers, a large number of general and colonel, top leaders of the Baath party, businessmen. Cohen was arrested in January 1965 while transmitting to his handlers. He was hanged on May 18, 1965. 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. By Lianne Back. "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. That is, until Meir Dagan took over as chief. In January 1965, Syrian government officials announced that Eli is an Israeli spy. 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. 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.. "This cooperation brings significant benefits to New Zealand's national security, we help them (Mossad), and they help us," they added. [4], Cohen provided an extensive amount and wide range of intelligence data for the Israeli Army between 1961 and 1965. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. At first, he refused. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. he supplies Eli with inside information about the political and military situation. Cohen accepted the calling. Cohen's astonishing undercover career lasted for four years. In February 1962, Cohen moved to Damascus. The Syrians have consistently refused to do so. His fathers name was Amin Taabet, and his mothers Saadia Ibrahim. Cohen's training was long and exhausting. The TV film 'The Impossible Spy' (1987) chronicled Eli's life. A number were only released 14 years later, after the 1967 War. But his knowledge of. [34], The Israeli settlement Eliad on the Golan Heights is named for him.[35]. 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. 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. 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. The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy - San Diego Jewish World The film featured John Shea as Eli. How is it that you dare allow a stranger to read a classified document? he angrily asked Saif. 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. Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). In November 1964, Tel Dan Syria open fire on Israel tractors in the demilitarized zone. Where Is Nadia Cohen Now? World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. Nadia Majald, and together they had three children. Israel could not survive without Jordan's water. At Kfar Habad, on July 29, 1977, at the joint Bar Mitzvah for 100 fatherless boys, in the presence of Prime Minister. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. [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. In early 1961, Chaim Herzog, Chief of Military Intelligence and later president of Israel, signed the document authorizing Cohens use as a spy. They had three children, Sophie, Irit, and Shai. According to Maurice Cohen, this really happened. 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. 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. The watch is now on display at the 'Mossad' headquarters. Nadia Cohen - Life Story of Widow of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen - Facts Ninja Eli Cohen (pictured, at center) was born in Egypt in 1924 to Jewish parents who had immigrated to Alexandria from Aleppo, Syria. To establish his cover, Cohen moved to Buenos Aires in 1961. In a display of generosity, the tabet contributed some money to build a public kitchen for the poor of Damascus. [9], Cohen continued his social life as he had in Argentina, spending time in cafes listening to political gossip. Did you spend your weekend binge-watching Netflix's taut thriller, The Spy? Eli Cohen, Israels most famous spy, also happened to be a hopeless romantic. One of them was Colonel Amin al-Hafaz, a supporter of the secular-leftist Baath party. 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. try to make as many friends as possible, and establish contact with Arab leaders. 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. He arrived in Israel on February 8, 1957. Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: Netflix drama 'raises my blood pressure' Source:The Pedagogic Center, The Department for Jewish Zionist Education, The Jewish Agency for Israel, (c) 1992-2007. 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. Melita Norwood | longest-serving British spy | Melita Norwood Book, Death, Family, Daughter | melita norwood images. Cohen wrote in his final letter on 15 May 1965:[7]. Israeli intelligence was particularly excited about Cohen . He wrote a last letter to his wife before he mounted the scaffold to a seething crowd. Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anything. [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. The crime of obtaining secret information is kept hidden to ensure the safety of the country to benefit the enemy. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. 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. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. Eli's handlers were continually persuading him to return. "He began writing the number but stopped abruptly and, looking flushed and flustered, mumbled under his breath about needing to run out to the supermarket before it closed. 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. Fortunately, several were easy to spot, for they . He worked as an accountant. Intelligence officers who investigated the issue offered two possibilities: The first is that it was Egyptian intelligence that identified Cohen and gave him up to the Syrians; the second, which is considered more probable, is that the demand for information was so great that frequent communications via radio to Mossad headquarters exposed Cohen to Syrian counterintelligence. Khalid al-Hafidh, a Syrian migrant living in Auckland, claims to be the son Amin al-Hafiz, a Syrian leader who presided over the country during Cohen's execution and his subsequent secret burial. He continued his social life, spending a lot of time in cafes listening to political gossip. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. At the age of 41, Cohen was hanged in Damascus in front of a crowd of 10,000. Over the years, her relationship with the Mossad and that of her children, Sophie Ben-Dor, Irit Peleg and Shai Cohen, unraveled. She smiles. Syria tortures him but he was still lying, his face was covered with wounds, his nail was pulled out. The unit bombed unoccupied American and British installations, expecting that this would be considered the work of Egyptians. On August 31, 1959, he married a beautiful Iraqi-born Jew, Nadia Majald. But within a month he had lost his Tel Aviv-based accountancy job. Cohen established his contact quickly, his letter of recommendation opened the gates to high society. Eli did go back to Syria, but his behavior changed. 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. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. Syria has not even disclosed the location of Eli's grave. Prior to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, Cohen was arrested and interrogated over his Zionist activities. 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. The 2019 'Netflix' miniseries 'The Spy' had actor Sacha Baron Cohen portraying Eli. 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. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. Al-Gamal, for his part, adopted the Jewish identity of Jacques Biton and immigrated to Israel from France on the orders of Egyptian intelligence. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. 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. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (Hebrew: , Arabic: ; 6 December 1924 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. Eli studied at a local Jewish community school and then attended the 'University of Alexandria' to study electrical engineering. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. After several days, Eli got a new identity as. He soon became accepted, well-liked, and respected, and made contacts with politicians, diplomats and military officials working out of the Syrian Embassy. Thanks". 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. On September 20, 2016, an unknown Syrian group named 'Syrian Art Treasures' posted a 'Facebook' video showing Eli's body after his execution. The information he had been providing them for years was too good to forego. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. But changes were taking place in the Syrian Government that alarmed Eli. "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. 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. The execution was broadcast on Syrian television. It, however, did not change the situation. The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the. The Ba'athist coup and Eli Cohen's role. While Eli was not directly involved with the Operation Susannah spies, he was involved with pro-Israel activity, and he was brutally questioned by Egypts Intelligence Services. Saif calmly replied, Theres nothing to worry about. She understood from him that he would be working for the Ministry of Defense, but she didnt know where or in what capacity. 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. 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. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. After his execution, a white parchment filled with anti-Zionist writing was put on his body, and he was left hanging for six hours. Unending Agony for Legendary Spy Eli Cohen and His Widow He set up a travel agency in Tel Aviv and developed ties with the upper echelons of Israeli society, including politicians. A New Zealander claiming to the son of a former Syrian president, says he knows the whereabouts of the executed Israeli spy's remains, according to a report on New Zealand news service Newshub on Sunday. Cohen was publicly hanged in the Marjeh Square in Damascus on 18 May 1965. In 1967, the Israelis were able to conquer the Golan Heights in two days in part due to the intelligence he provided. Thus, he wished to terminate his assignment in Syria. Abdel Latif Hassan immediately wrote four letters one to his brother-in-law, two to friends in Beirut, and fourth to his son in Damascus. His final visit was in 1964. He ultimately complied. (Haim Zach/GPO). Recruitment into the Mossad. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/eli-cohen-16869.php. 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. A year later, in 1965, Cohen was caught transmitting over the radio back to Tel Aviv. Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife. 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. Eli Cohenbecame certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. They successfully detected radio transmissions and were able to triangulate the transmitter. After Hafez became Prime Minister, Eli was even considered to be named the Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense. 4 Min Read. 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. So now we have a request. Over the years, Nadia has made several efforts to seek a bit of mercy from Syrian officials. love of country, sacrifice and about his life and my life, my children." . Eli seemed to have completed the final stage in establishing his network. In February 2007, the Turkish government offered to act as a mediator for their return. I am begging you my dear Nadia not to spend your time in weeping about some thing already passed. In Episode 5, Cohen's playboy-esque Thaabet hosts a sex party at his apartment to distract key government and military officials while the Ba'ath Party's military committee seizes power in Damascus. The Syrians and their Russian advisers were alarmed by the intelligence that was seeping out of the country. There is always the risk that the agent remains loyal to his original handlers and has managed to fool his new bosses. "Suddenly something changed there toward us. 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. he soon became a well-known figure in the Arab circle. 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. Later, visiting his sister-in-law, Cohen's wife Nadia, he notices that she has a brand new Singer sewing machine in her home. 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. Various reports say that Biton was unveiled and offered the option of becoming a double agent. The newly appointed Syrian intelligence colonel, Ahmed Su'edani, disliked Eli. She has pleaded for years and is still waiting to receive Eli's body. But it . 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. "There was great excitement because it is essentially the only item of dad that came back, we have nothing. Already a member? This week, KAN 11 began broadcasting a documentary series "Lochem 566," (Fighter 566, Cohen's Mossad codename). 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. 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. The Spy is streaming globally on Netflix. These skills were instrumental in ensuring the safety and survival of one Kamal Amin Taabet: Eli Cohens new identity. "I have passed your response to our partners and am waiting for a reply," said the agent. Still Ben-Dor, who was four years old when her father was killed, said she was pleasantly surprised by actor Cohens portrayal. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. 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). This is adefinitive andfinal verdict. I want him, here and now, because I've reached the age that I deserve tranquillity. His new friends introduced Eli to top government officials, senior army officers, and leaders of the ruling party. Reports earlier this year said a Russian delegation had removed his remains from Syria in an attempt to bring them to Israel. ", "Former Assad aide: Eli Cohen's burial site unknown],mm", "New footage emerges of Eli Cohen on the gallows", "Mossad Brings Home Watch of Israeli Spy Executed in Syria; Netanyahu Hails 'Brave' Op", "Watch of famed Israeli spy Eli Cohen recovered by Mossad", "The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy", "Will Assad's Ouster Free Body of Israel Spy? Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: 'When he was caught, something died From 1948 until 1967, Syria firing mortar shells from the Syrian occupied Golan Heights into the Jewish settlements of the Upper Galilee below. Using Biton, Israel "fed" Egypt with false intelligence that reportedly contributed to the Six Day War victory. 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. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. [7][9], Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. 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. Cohen was then informed that Mossad had decided to recruit him and underwent an intensive six-month course at the Mossad training school. It is for these reasons Eli Cohen is known as Israels greatest spy. In real life, Cohen was only able to return to Israel a few times during his mission. In November 1965, Eli's wife wrote to Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad, requesting him to send Elis remains back to Israel. In 1965, the Syrian secret service was on high alert. "Sophie's. 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. Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Defense Minister Ezer Weizmann, Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur, and several Mossad operatives all attended his son's Bar Mitzvah in 1977. 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. 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. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president.
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