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. Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife. After some months, Abdel Latif Hassan introduces Eli to General Amin El-Hafez, the military attache at the embassy. But Sophie was born without seeing his father. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. Warning: This post contains spoilers for The Spy. 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. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. [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. The husband hunters among the Damascus rich and influential flocked to the handsome Taabet, hoping that their almond eyes, Byzantine beauty, and olive skin would secure a future of wealth and power: He became the most sought-after bachelor in the Syrian capital. [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. He had seventeen lovers in Syria, all dazzling beauties with a fair degree of family power. Eli hoped as did Israeli Intelligence that these women would help him escape in time of crisis.. I had gotten under his cover," said Maurice Cohen. Eli Cohen was the man for the job. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. He wasnt even drafted into regular service but was placed in a reserve Israeli Air Force formation as a logistics clerk. Perhaps he wasnt allowed into the security service due to his Military Intelligence evaluation some years before.
Eli Cohen (politician born 1972) - Wikipedia Cohen was born in 1924 in Alexandria, Egypt to a devout Mizrahi Jewish and Zionist family. Last year, Israel was able to retrieve Cohens wristwatch from Syria and return it to his family. At these parties, Cohen "dispensed free-flowing liquor and prostitutes",[1] and highly placed officials would openly discuss their work and army plans. Using Biton, Israel "fed" Egypt with false intelligence that reportedly contributed to the Six Day War victory. 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. Israeli intelligence was particularly excited about Cohen . 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. For two weeks Cohen was put under surveillance and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. 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. His first assignment was to infiltrate the Jewish community of Alexandria. 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. The execution was recorded on 35mm film. Two of them were Abraham and Maurice.
Where Is Nadia Cohen Now? Spy Eli Cohen Wife Love Story - Refinery29 Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. [7][9] The Israel Defense Forces recruited him in 1957 and placed him in military intelligence, where he became a counter-intelligence analyst. After Hafez became Prime Minister, Eli was even considered to be named the Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense. Today, one can see the former Syrian bunkers that remain on the Golan Heights from 1967 (as well as the tanks from 1973).
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The True Story Behind The Spy on Netflix | Time 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. Eli Cohen provided an incredible amount of intelligence data to the Israeli Army over a period of three years. [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. According to the report, Mossad agents were on their way to Auckland, with one text saying: "Wait for our partners to arrive before making a decision.". Over the years, Nadia has made several efforts to seek a bit of mercy from Syrian officials. He had three brothers. If I wanted something, I called, they put me through to him immediately. He ultimately complied. In addition, the commander of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Suedani trusted no one and disliked Eli. In 1960, he was recruited to join the Mossad for a special mission in which he was to pretend to be a Syrian businessman returning to the country after having lived in Argentina. When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. 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.
'Disturbing' footage emerges from famed Israeli spy's execution in In 1960, Cohen was recruited to be part of a dangerous mission to Syria. he supplies Eli with inside information about the political and military situation. On May 18, 1965, Eli was publicly hanged at the Marjeh Square in Damascus, Syria. After several days, Eli got a new identity as Kamal Amin Tablet, son of Syrian parents, born in Beirut. 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. Meir even appealed to the Soviet Union. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. 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.
Double Agent's Widow Offers New Take on Eli Cohen Affair Cohen wrote in his final letter on 15 May 1965:[7]. Asked to pinpoint what she found not to be reflective of her familys experience, Ben-Dor cited the ethnic gap, noting her mother was never a maid as was portrayed in the series. The president was ousted from power a year later in 1966. On September 20, 2016, an unknown Syrian group named 'Syrian Art Treasures' posted a 'Facebook' video showing Eli's body after his execution. Cohen would then send intelligence back to Israel using a hidden radio transmitter. 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.. 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.
In December 1956, the Jewish Agency assisted Eli to deport to Israel in a vessel. Al-Hafidh wanted a million dollars for his services, texting: "1M for the minimum for kick start. Despite being away from home for months at a time, he fathered three children, Sophie, Irit and Shai. The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. He made friends with many of the guests and ended up receiving classified military briefings and visiting Syrian military sites. 4 Min Read. He is best known for his espionage work in 196165 in Syria, where he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military hierarchy.[1][2][3]. And much of the credit for Israels ability to capture the Golan was due to Eli Cohen, Israels greatest spy. 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. He then left the university and continued his studies at home. The message was passed on to the Syrians, who arrested Cohen. We may recall the Egyptian-Jewish spies from the Operation Susannah fiasco.
The spy who never came home - The Jewish Chronicle "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? Eli Cohen, at 29, offered his services to the Israeli Intelligence Services but was rebuked twice. ", "Sacha Baron Cohen To Star As Eli Cohen in Netflix Limited Series 'The Spy', Cohen's widow asks for his remains to be returned, PM's speech at the ceremony marking 40 years since the death of Eli Cohen, Our man in Damascus: Eli Cohen of blessed memory, Exhibition in the IDF & Defense Establishment Archives, Eli Cohen, moments after the execution (part 1), Eli Cohen, moments after the execution (part 2), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eli_Cohen&oldid=1140124388, Egyptian people convicted of spying for Israel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having same image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 15:41. These skills were instrumental in ensuring the safety and survival of one Kamal Amin Taabet: Eli Cohens new identity. 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. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president. After several days, Eli got a new identity as. Also in Episode 5, viewers see Hafiz assume power after demanding the resignation of Syria's then-president, Nazim al-Qudsi. He also held parties at his home for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others. "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. [7][9], Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. 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. The goal was to gather intelligence from high-ranking Syrian politicians and military officials. 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 TV film 'The Impossible Spy' (1987) chronicled Eli's life. One day they took Eli to visit the Syrian positions along Israel's border. In 1949, his parents and three brothers moved to Israel while Eli remained in Egypt to coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities there. [6] Cohen spoke five languages fluently. Were they not interested? The Syrian officer readily agreed and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. Nadia, widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, reacts during an interview with Reuters in Herzliya, Israel October 6, 2019. . Nadia Cohen attempted to appeal for clemency at the Syrian Embassy in Paris but was turned away. "It was all for good intentions.
Eli Cohen Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements Eli found out about Syria's secret plan to attack the Israeli defense forces. Eli could watch the entrance to the Syrian government officials' guest house. Elis connections enabled him to be taken to the Golan Heights a major strategic asset for Syria from 1948-67.
Israeli spy's widow 'hurt' by Netflix biopic but hopes it will help For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. 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. References ^ Eli Cohen Knesset ^ Eli Cohen Ministry of Economy and Industry ^ Kulanu list Central Elections Committee
Steve Cohen's daughter Sophia splits from fianc - Page Six Eli had lost his friends, in 1957 he immigrates to Israel. "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. I want him (Yossi Cohen) to clarify what hapepned," said the 84-year-old. It hurt. Sacha Baron Cohen in 'The Spy' as Eli Cohen. Given their history of a paper trail, its fitting but heartbreaking to learn that their final exchange also took place over written correspondence. In January 1965, Syrian security officers broke into Elis apartment while he was in the middle of his escape to Israel. With time he was taken even more into the confidence of the highest echelons of power. [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. their chief noticed that their decision taken by the government was broadcast to Israel. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. they carry out several bombings in Cairo and Alexandria, targeting libraries and cultural centers, cinemas, post offices. Eli studied at a local Jewish community school and then attended the 'University of Alexandria' to study electrical engineering. At the same time, Israeli officials devised escape schemes and appealed to international organizations. 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. In the 1970s, they left Israel for Germany and in 1982, al-Gamal, alias Jacques Biton, died of an illness. Maurice Cohen told his brother he had a new phone line installed in his house and "gave the number of his apartment in Damascus, which I had received in a message just before he'd come home.". "Sophie's. Ahead of the mission, Cohen had to learn to speak Arabic in a Syrian accent rather than his native Egyptian.
The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy - San Diego Jewish World Israel desperately tried to have his sentence commuted, and despite requests from world leaders and Pope Paul VI for clemency, Cohen was hanged publicly in May of that year. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. 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. 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. Egyptian authorities uncovered the spy ring and sentenced two of the members to death. 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.
Cohen heads to Germany to discuss Iran uranium enrichment, IRGC 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 thus Israel needed an agent in Damascus (Sami Micheal, Nadia Cohen's brother was recruited. 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. According to his fictional biography, in 1948 the family moved to Argentina, where they opened a successful textile business. Kamal Amin Taabets (Eli Cohen) return to Syria would ostensibly be the fulfillment of a lifelong patriotic dream. Eli Cohen, Israels most famous spy, also happened to be a hopeless romantic.
Israeli spy's widow 'hurt' by Netflix biopic, but welcomes publicity At times before the civil war, the Syrians used Israels northern border with Lebanon to harass Israel the way they used to from the Golan Heights.