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Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. The Israeli government and Cohens widow have for many years sought the return of Elis body. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. Despite her criticism of the series, Ben-Dor said she understood why the shows creators took artistic license with her fathers story. He became a confidante of George Saif, high up in the Ministry of Information. Cohen's brothers Abraham and Maurice led a campaign to return his remains; Maurice died in 2006, and Nadia now leads it. The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the. In 1954, Egyptian authorities arrested Eli for being a terror suspect. Cohen would pretend to be drunk to encourage such conversations, to which he paid close attention. 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. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. His fathers name was Amin Taabet, and his mothers Saadia Ibrahim. Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife. In January 1965, Syrian government officials announced that Eli is an Israeli spy. The Spy's Widow // After many decades, Nadia Cohen is keeping the 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. Kamal Amin Taabet (also called Tabas in some sources) was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Syrian Muslim parents. I give you my blessing. 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. He was driven to the airport, where his wife Nadia saw him off. 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. The drunk guests would often end up blabbing about their work to Cohen, who was sober but would pretend to be intoxicated. Did you spend your weekend binge-watching Netflix's taut thriller, The Spy? The Golan is not only important for its military significance. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. In the 1970s, they left Israel for Germany and in 1982, al-Gamal, alias Jacques Biton, died of an illness. 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 the intelligence officers convinced him to go back one last time. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. I beg my wife to forgive me, to take care of herself and our children. In Episode 5, Maurice puts the clues together when he covers for the regular analyst that communicates with Cohen using Morse code. 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. In November 1964, Tel Dan Syria open fire on Israel tractors in the demilitarized zone. After weeks of surveillance, he was finalized and was put to training. But even after four decades, there are still many questions related to the Eli Cohen affair, some minor, others major - among them, the way in which Syrian counterintelligence identified the Israeli spy. The watch is now on display at the 'Mossad' headquarters. [12][16], In 2016, a Syrian group calling itself "Syrian art treasures" posted a video on Facebook showing Cohen's body after his execution. 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. He organized several protest campaigns against the British rule. Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. 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. 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. 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. He worked as an accountant and translator. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. [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. 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. The Syrian project to divert water from the headwaters of the Jordan away from Israel was mentioned already in the above introduction. Eli married Iraqi Jewish Nadia Majald, sister of Hebrew author Sami Michael, in 1959. Eli's second instructor Yehuda taught him how to use a small, sophisticated radio transmitter. Nadia Cohen attempted to appeal for clemency at the Syrian Embassy in Paris but was turned away. But an interview published in the Cairo Times yesterday with the German-born Weltrude Scheffeldt-Biton suggests that Egyptian intelligence played the most important role in unmasking Cohen. Eli Cohen Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements 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. His successes couldn't be vocally shared with his family, however. Cohen expressed fear of discovery to the Mossad on his last secret visit to Israel in November 1964, and he stated that he wished to terminate his assignment in Syria. The information he had been providing them for years was too good to forego. 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. Cohen immigrated to Israel in 1957 and was recruited by Military Intelligence, to a unit that later became part of the Mossad. [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. These skills were instrumental in ensuring the safety and survival of one Kamal Amin Taabet: Eli Cohens new identity. 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. 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. The film featured John Shea as Eli. The agent replied: "Will do, thanks K". 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 anythingDo what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. In the show, Cohenas Thaabetbefriends Hafiz in Buenos Aires and later in Damascus helps Hafiz's Ba'ath party seize power. When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. After his execution, a white parchment filled with anti-Zionist writing was put on his body, and he was left hanging for six hours. It doesnt fit our story but I understand the situation. In an interview with Newshub, Al-Hafidh now says he is willing to reveal the information without the financial reward, as long as the Cohen's relatives finally have their peace. Cohen wrote in his final letter on 15 May 1965:[7]. Source:The Pedagogic Center, The Department for Jewish Zionist Education, The Jewish Agency for Israel, (c) 1992-2007. He continued his social life, spending a lot of time in cafes listening to political gossip. The Syrian officer readily agreed and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. I understand and respect [it], she said in a separate interview earlier Sunday with the network. The execution was broadcast on Syrian television. The True Story Behind The Spy on Netflix | Time They had three children, Sophie, Irit, and Shai. After some months, Abdel Latif Hassan introduces Eli to General Amin El-Hafez, the military attache at the embassy. Israel has for decades worked to retrieve his remains. 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. Eli seemed to have completed the final stage in establishing his network. I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has passed. 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. The crime of obtaining secret information is kept hidden to ensure the safety of the country to benefit the enemy. 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 had three brothers. In February 2007, the Turkish government offered to act as a mediator for their return. He did not object, in fact, to the idea of a ladies man reputation. As Intelligence Chief Meir Amit said, Eli succeeded far beyond the capabilities of most other men.. What Netflix's 'The Spy' Gets Wrong About Eli Cohen This article was originally published in May 2005 and republished to coincide with the release of "The Spy" - a Netflix series about Eli Cohen's life. 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. The execution was recorded on 35mm film. Learn more. Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. 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. 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. Israeli intelligence was particularly excited about Cohen . he supplies Eli with inside information about the political and military situation. In 1960, Cohen was approached by the Mossad for a mission in Syria. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Israeli ambassador, Itzhak Gerberg, would not comment on the report. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. She smiles. Already a member? Due to this information, the Israeli Air Force was able to obliterate the Syrian plans for the diversion scheme by shelling and bombing the bulldozers and other equipment used for the scheme in early 1964. Diplomats, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and Pope Paul VI tried to intercede. 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. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. 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. He ultimately complied. Saif calmly replied, Theres nothing to worry about. But Sophie was born without seeing his father. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret 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. As a young adult, he worked within Egypt to secretly assist other Egyptian Jews in emigrating to Israel. Earlier communication between the alleged son and the intelligence agency reveals Al-Hafidh was adamant on receiving the money. 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 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. Eli Cohen's son, Shaul, was only 2 weeks old when he last saw his father. He wrote a last letter to his wife before he mounted the scaffold to a seething crowd. After a few months, Eli was visited by George Salem Seif, a radio show host in charge of radio Damascus broadcast for Syrian abord. In January 1965, Syrian security services broke into Eli's apartment, where he was caught while he was escaping to Israel. [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). Eli was, however, persuaded continuously by Israeli intelligence agencies to return to Syria. Thanks". That is, until Meir Dagan took over as chief. their chief noticed that their decision taken by the government was broadcast to Israel. 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. 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. After Hafez became Prime Minister, Eli was even considered to be named the Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense. Hes a trusted friend.. Cohen was born in 1924 in Alexandria, Egypt to a devout Mizrahi Jewish and Zionist family. 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. They had a son, Daniel, and after the Six Day War they celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 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. The condom was used as a timing tool for mixed chemicals and produce a minor burst of fire. He then moved to Damascus in February 1962, under his new identity, Kamel Amin Thaabet, to extract classified information from Syrian military officers. The Ba'athist coup and Eli Cohen's role. 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 captors later remarked on his noble bearing and his courage despite the horrific Syrian interrogation methods. 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. The purposes of that visit were to pass on intelligence and to enable him to witness the birth of his third child. When Intelligence came by a second time, he jumped at it. Reports earlier this year said a Russian delegation had removed his remains from Syria in an attempt to bring them to Israel. We may recall the Egyptian-Jewish spies from the Operation Susannah fiasco. Cohen went undercover in Syria as Kamel Amin Thaabet in the early 1960s, aligned himself with key military and government personnel and fed intel back to Israel. Before he was executed, Cohen met with a rabbi, as per his request, and sent his wife a letter. 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, the second of eight children in a family of orthodox Jews. The Golan Heights defenses were top-secret and closed only to top military staff. [6] Cohen spoke five languages fluently. 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. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. 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.". Cohen would then send intelligence back to Israel using a hidden radio transmitter. He would also lend money to government officials, and many came to him for advice. Eli's handlers were continually persuading him to return. Ben-Dor was pessimistic that Israel would soon be able to retrieve her fathers body from Syria. At this time the Ba'ath Party was illegal in Syria but the party seized power in 1963. "It works with a range of international intelligence agencies,'' the NZSIS said in response. 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. Text messages sent from an NZSIS agent called "Carl" appear to show him brokering a deal. The Spy is an aesthetically flawed portrait of Eli Cohen For two weeks Cohen was put under surveillance and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. 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. 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). Once Cohen had established his background, he was inserted into the "target country," Syria, and operated with great success for four years until his capture. But what happened next apparently deviates from the way it appears in the show. The location of Cohen's body remains unknown. Show creator Gideon Raff's limited series has brought renewed attention to the life and work of Eli Cohen. Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future! they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant. 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. Cohen later. 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. [8] His most famous achievement was the tour of the Golan Heights in which he collected intelligence on the Syrian fortifications there. "Their ages range from four and a half to 32." "You must be very proud," I offer. 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. They observed a period of radio silence, in the hope that any illegal transmissions could be identified. [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. 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. 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 has reached the apex of success, and it seems that there is no door he can't open. 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). try to make as many friends as possible, and establish contact with Arab leaders. Double Agent's Widow Offers New Take on Eli Cohen Affair Israel could not survive without Jordan's water. Eli Cohen's daughter lukewarm on 'The Spy,' but likes Sacha Baron Cohen It went wrong, really wrong," he said. I give you my blessing. In 1960, the national intelligence agency of Israel, 'Mossad,' approached Eli for a classified mission in Syria. Even today Syria refuses to return his body for burial in Israel. He was sent to Argentina, where he took on the guise of a businessman, scion of a Syrian family.