For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935, [10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. He had an input into and an impact on Syrian national defense and was privy to almost all their secrets. This week, KAN 11 began broadcasting a documentary series "Lochem 566," (Fighter 566, Cohen's Mossad codename). Eli was friends with two highly placed Army officers, Colonels Hatoum and Dali, who were fully informed about the scheme. Eli's first instructor Yitzhak learned to memorize things, he throws a dozen objects on the table and Eli observe them for a second and described them. He emigrated to Israel with the assistance of the Jewish Agency. He says the spies wanted him to try and talk to his father's close friends or provide insight. Eli Cohenbecame certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. Sacha Baron Cohen-led limited series "The Spy" which comes out today on Netflix tells the true story of how famed Israeli Mossad agent Eli Cohen went undercover in 1960s Syria. Because of that, perhaps he just tired of the whole charade. Daniel Sonnenfeld,55 years after execution in Syria, Israeli spy Eli Cohen makes headlines,Jerusalem Post, February 27, 2021). 4 Min Read. Earlier communication between the alleged son and the intelligence agency reveals Al-Hafidh was adamant on receiving the money. In Episode 5, Maurice puts the clues together when he covers for the regular analyst that communicates with Cohen using Morse code. Last year, Israel was able to retrieve Cohens wristwatch from Syria and return it to his family. Saif calmly replied, Theres nothing to worry about. One day Cohen was sitting in Saifs office reading a classified document while the Syrian was on the phone. The next day he comes to Hassan's office and admitted that he is sick and tired to live in Argentina, he wanted to go back to Syria, could he help him with a letter of recommendation? Nadia and 'Mossad' were on bad terms until Meir Dagan was made the agencys chief. Cohen was caught and eventually executed by Syrian authorities in 1965. 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. (PMO), Sacha Baron Cohen as Israeli spy Eli Cohen in The Spy (YouTube screenshot), Mossad spy Eli Cohen, executed in Syria in 1965. But changes were taking place in the Syrian Government that alarmed Eli. 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. A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. Please try again or choose an option below. children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxhaPGREa74. They observed a period of radio silence, in the hope that any illegal transmissions could be identified. Today, one can see the former Syrian bunkers that remain on the Golan Heights from 1967 (as well as the tanks from 1973). 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. He was also allowed to write a final letter to his wife. become close friends. He then underwent a show trial, like the Operation Susannah spies had in Egypt 12 years before., Like them, his verdict was predetermined. Thanks". New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Israeli ambassador, Itzhak Gerberg, would not comment on the report. Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. As the Syrian Army officer explained to Eli the fortifications the Syrian Army had built, Eli suggested that the Syrians plant trees there to deceive the Israelis into thinking it was unfortified, as well as to provide shade and beauty for the soldiers stationed there. 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. 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. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. 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. - From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. I think as long as Bashar Assad is in power I dont see the word progress,' she said, referring to Syrias dictator. 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. There is always the risk that the agent remains loyal to his original handlers and has managed to fool his new bosses. She smiles. His wife, Nadia, would be left a widow with three very young children. Others have attributed the carelessness to an almost suicidal tendency perhaps, it was later surmised, he had been in the undercover world too long, but knew he couldnt get out of it. Already a member? Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife. Over the years, Nadia has made several efforts to seek a bit of mercy from Syrian officials. ", "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? "It was all for good intentions. Reports earlier this year said a Russian delegation had removed his remains from Syria in an attempt to bring them to Israel. 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. He was supposed to stay in Buenos Aires as a Syrian migr businessman named Kamal Amin Taabet. Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. "I am the son of the only person on this planet who knows where the remains are buried," he told Newshub in an interview. The unit bombed unoccupied American and British installations, expecting that this would be considered the work of Egyptians. We may recall the Egyptian-Jewish spies from the Operation Susannah fiasco. In 2016, Nadia told 'Israel Radio' that former 'Mossad' chief Meir Dagan had asked the US officials to help bring Elis remains. He worked as an accountant and translator. For 19 years, Jewish settlements in the north were under constant threat of Syrian guns. Periodically Eli would return to Israel to speak with his Israeli handlers and visit his wife and small children. You're not alone. Later, visiting his sister-in-law, Cohen's wife Nadia, he notices that she has a brand new Singer sewing machine in her home. 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. Eli Cohen, at 29, offered his services to the Israeli Intelligence Services but was rebuked twice. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant. In 1954, the British pull out of Egypt completely. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. thus Israel needed an agent in Damascus (Sami Micheal, Nadia Cohen's brother was recruited. Egypt has the strongest of the Arab countries and sworn enamy if Israel with the decision to evacuate Egypt, modern bases, airfield, and huge stores of equipment and war material would fall into the Egyptian army. Spy Eli Cohen Wife Love Story, American History Has Been Whitewashed, But, Black Teen Girls On TV Are A Mess Finally. He has reached the apex of success, and it seems that there is no door he can't open. your father and uncle opened a textile store, but it went bankrupt your father died in 1956 and six months later your mother died too. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. 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. 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. 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. 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.Even today Syria refuses to return his body for burial in Israel. When Intelligence came by a second time, he jumped at it. He set up a travel agency in Tel Aviv and developed ties with the upper echelons of Israeli society, including politicians. "Their ages range from four and a half to 32." "You must be very proud," I offer. He had three brothers. At Kfar Habad, on July 29, 1977, at the joint Bar Mitzvah for 100 fatherless boys, in the presence of Prime Minister. 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. These skills were instrumental in ensuring the safety and survival of one Kamal Amin Taabet: Eli Cohens new identity. According to Maurice Cohen, this really happened. In 1960, Cohen was recruited to be part of a dangerous mission to Syria. When the Baath took power in 1963, Eli was firmly entrenched in Syrian high society. Cohen established his contact quickly, his letter of recommendation opened the gates to high society. But he refused). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [11], The Mossad recruited Cohen after Director-General Meir Amit, looking for a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government, came across his name while looking through the agency's files of rejected candidates, after none of the current candidates seemed suitable for the job. 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. 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. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. [13][14] In Buenos Aires he moved among the Arab community, letting it be known he had large amounts of money to put at the disposal of the Syrian Ba'ath Party.