I want the inside story of a legendary tale and Im confident that Im about to hear it. Eli Cohen, publicly hanged in the Marjeh Square, Damascus, on 18 May 1965 Cohen was found guilty of espionage by a military tribunal and sentenced to death under martial law. Cohen made his desire to return to Syria well known to his new associates, and, when he moved to Damascus in 1962, his Syrian contacts helped him access the highest circles of power in Syria. Eli was sent to engage in secret missions. Now they claim that they dont even know where it is buried. In January 1965 Syrian counterintelligence identified his radio signal and apprehended him in the act of sending a transmission. Cohen had returned to Israel in late December 1964 to be there for the birth of his son and tried to convince his bosses to let him remain. "[11] I was eleven years younger than him At first I was afraid to enter into a serious relationship, I was afraid of the burden, of the unknown, but Eli reassured me. Syrian counter-intelligence authorities eventually uncovered a spy conspiracy, tried and convicted Cohen under pre-war 'martial law' to death penalty in 1965. In August 1961 he left Argentina for me. Support Veteran Journalism . She was married to him only for a few years from 1959 to his death in May 1965, but never remarried because of her deep love for him and raised their three children alone. Eli, who would feign intoxication, remained sober and listened carefully." Mossad Director Yossi Cohen said, We remember Eli Cohen and do not forget. 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. The unit bombed American and British installations expecting that this would be considered the work of Egyptians. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The memories she retains are fresh and vivid, as if the events she describes in great detail occurred yesterday. In March, Nadia Cohen told Israel Radio that the late Mossad chief Meir Dagan had sought the assistance of the United States as late as 2011, after the Syrian civil war broke out, to help bring his remains to Israel for burial. However, his name and picture were put on the list of suspects. The black-and-white footage shows what appears to be Cohens body being lowered into a coffin after he was hanged in a public square in Damascus over 51 years ago, on May 18 of that year. The Cohen family had tried every avenue they could think of to save Elis life, but the international effort had failed. After all, this is her lifes story. Mossad spy Eli Cohen, executed in Syria in 1965 (YouTube screenshot), 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 Damascus public square. It was over. tortor at risus erra adipiscing at in. Estudiante de Mercadeo Internacional y Publicidad con inters de trabajar en las reas de estrategia de mercadeo, consumer insights y rea comercial. Will Israels superspy finally rest in peace? The IDF managed to attack the facility efficiently, using tanks and planes, and destroy all Syrian equipment that was intended to divert the sources of the Jordan River, until it could not be rehabilitated. Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions. Mrs. Cohen shows my wife and I to the living room where two large couches face each other on either side of the room; a glass coffee table is situated between them. All Rights Reserved. In 2001 Hafez in interview with Al-jazeera distanced himself from Cohen he said that such a friendship would be impossible given the fact that he had been in Moscow until 1962. Between 1961 and 1965 Cohen passed Syrian secrets to the Israeli government in what is remembered as one of the most daring and productive intelligence-gathering operations in Israeli history. Eli Cohen, the most famous Israeli spy, was executed by hanging on May 18, 1965. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved. I politely decline. Those included the Syrian military attach, Amin al-Hafez, who would later serve as president of Syria. In January 1965 Syrian counterintelligence identified his radio signal and apprehended him in the act of sending a transmission. 'How is it that you dare allow a stranger to read a classified document?' Cohen himself was not above the spicier part of a spy's life either. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Can you share your story with me? I request. , Began to suspect that Syria was operating a mole. Though his parents and three brothers left for Israel in 1949, Cohen remained to finish a degree in electronics and to coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. An Israeli intelligence agency deployed him to develop close relationships with Syrian political and military officials. His fluency in Arabic, English, and French made him an attractive recruit for Israeli intelligence. He wrote in encrypted French and used a tiny radio transmitter. Marco Carmel. What was Eli like? He was a very happy person, very smart. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. Israels judicial overhaul: What is the coalition planning and where does it stand? * * * Today the sun is setting in the beautiful Israeli coastal town of Herzliya as I arrive at the address I am looking for and park my car nearby. Cohen was offended when Mossad rejected him, and resigned from military counterintelligence. Eli Cohen (hebreu: ) (Alexandria, Egipte, 26 de desembre de 1924 - Damasc, Sria, 18 de maig de 1965) va ser un clebre espia israeli.. Biografia Monument en el seu honor en la Muntanya Herzl, Jerusalem.. Eli Cohen va ser reconegut com un dels ms reeixits espies dels temps moderns. A noose was placed around his neck by a high-ranking Syrian government official who read the charges against Eli, who stood silently looking frightened. Later that year, he left university and began studying at home after facing harassment by the Muslim Brotherhood. Were really pleased that youve read, Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. , , During those months, a military coup took place in Syria and the Bath party came to power. Rochel; The intelligence conveyed to Israel during that period was credited by then-prime minister Levi Eshkol with greatly assisting Israels victory during the Six Day War. Catherine Perez- Shakdam Infiltrated the Iranian Regime and Met the Ayatollah // One Jewish womans journey into the terror state, Growing from History // The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and Nazi collaborators became an award-winning Israeli winemaker, Still A Mother // Her own loss drove her to find healing for others, A Chance Meeting // Outrunning a storm but not a friendship. That proved to be his downfall. In the years following the creation of Israel, many Jewish families left Egypt. # . , 16 December 1924 18 May 1965) (Arabic: ) was an Israeli spy. On his return to Damascus, at one of the new Syrian elite parties, he dubbed the contractor who was in charge of building the diversion facility. [19] The intelligence he gathered is claimed to have been an important factor in Israel's success in the Six Day War. At these parties such highly-placed officials would "talk freely of their work and army plans. They shut down all traffic and picked up his signal and they tracked it to his house. ididunt ut magna aliqua. Could the government cancel elections? Omissions? On January 24, 1965, Syria officially announced the exposure of spy Eli Cohen. Countless newspaper articles, three books, a film, and television programs recounted his life story, his special activity and his death. Her home is impeccably clean and decorated in a modern style. Memorial stone reading Eliahu (Eli) Cohen, in the "Garden of the Missing Soldiers" on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Four months later, he was executed in a public hanging. When I asked him what he was doing, he replied: You know Im a curious person. He really was. My soul. I decided the watch would remain in the Mossad. Join Facebook to connect with Irit Cohen and others you may know. Assad promised to return Cohens bones, but when he asked about it security officials told him: Sir, we dont know where the grave is, so he couldnt promise.. We have three children. Any grandchildren? We have six grandchildren, she says with pride as she points to a family photo on the wall. On January 24, 1965, Syria officially announced the exposure of spy Eli Cohen. Now Eli Cohen's astonishing real life James Bond story is the basis of the new Netflix miniseries The Spy, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. lorem ipsum dolor s For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office, and married Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant, in 1959. . "The complete trust Cohen enjoyed among his unwitting informants is illustrated by the following incident, which might have had serious consequences for Cohen. Er war als Vizeprsident fr das Unternehmen Israel Land Development Company ttig. Nadia Cohen is the widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, who spied in Syria by posing as a wealthy merchant during the early 1960s before being caught and hanged to death publicly. [3] Cohen took part in various Israeli covert operations in the country during the 1950s, though the Egyptian government could never verify and provide proof of his involvement in Operation Goshen, an Israeli operation to smuggle Egyptian Jews out of the country and resettle them in Israel due to increasing hostility there. Eli Cohen, the most famous Israeli spy, was executed by hanging on May 18, 1965. ,- , , Foi vrias vezes interrogado e torturado. You have the full liberty to do so. Summers with Chaim Dovid: The memories of that summer are different Just Ask: A summer gets off to a good start. Originally he was in the Spanish parts, where he was taught everything hed need to know, and then he spent time in the citys Syrian neighborhoods, where he began to get acquainted with the right people in order to accomplish his mission., Meeting The Famous Mohammed Saud! One of the ministry's directors entered the room unannounced. Although most of his loved ones left Egypt in 1949 to live in the newly independent Israel, Cohen stayed. A two-minute video posted on Syrian opposition. 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 In December 1956, Cohen was forced to leave the country. It is difficult to find Cohens bones, he added. He worked as a translator and an accountant before once again being recruited by Israeli intelligence in 1960. Cohen grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, the son of Syrian Jewish parents. His heroic life story is part of the curriculum and many students and students choose to write works about Eli Cohen, our man in Damascus. . Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. His father had moved there from Aleppo in 1914. He wanted to accomplish big things for his country. How did he get involved with the Mossad? I ask. Nadia Cohen, Eli Cohens widow, said she had never seen the footage and told Channel 2 watching the video was difficult and that it took me back [to those days].. The politicians no longer come. His heritageof dedication, determination, courage, and love of the homelandis our heritage. Receiving his primary education at a local Jewish community school, Eli nevertheless considered himself a patriot of Egypt, the country in which he was born. His graduate report stated that he had all the qualities needed to become a katsa, or field agent. He had seventeen lovers in Syria, all dazzling beauties with a fair degree of family power. [ 11][ 12] Cohen foi enforcado no Marjeh Square em Damasco em 18 de maio de 1965. During his vacation in Israel his father died, and immediately after the shiva he was forced to leave his family. He spent time living in Argentina working on his cover story and there were even rumors that he, as a rich businessman with a wealth of contacts in the government was being considered as the Deputy Defense Minister for Syria. [14], After establishing good relations with Syrian elite, Cohen embarked on the next stage - building strong confidence with many Syrian military and government officials. Con habilidades de orientacin a resultados, orden y claridad, iniciativa, y responsabilidad. Between 1961 and 1965 Cohen passed Syrian secrets to the Israeli government in what is remembered as one of the most daring and productive intelligence-gathering . The rabbi testified that he had met a broken, yet determined, person who wanted to inform his family that he had fulfilled his duty to the end and remained faithful to his people and country. In 1987, a documentary about him was produced by an Egyptian director. I didnt know about his trip to Argentinathats where he learned about Syrian culture and began to blend in with the Syrian community. Eliahu (Eli) ben Shaoul Cohen (Hebrew: , 16 December 1924 - 18 May 1965) (Arabic: ) was an Israeli spy. He was a hero who gave his life in the service of his country, and the people owes a great debt to his memory for his contribution to security. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said at a rally in memory of Eli Cohen: Even thirty years later, the legend of Eli Cohen lives within us The intelligence fighter in Israel is a target, different from any other fighter He is alone, he is also the soldier and he is also the commander. The IDF succeeded in thwarting this plot, thanks to the information it provided me. Kamel Thabet, who is Eli Cohen, From his point of view, he moved to the circle of decision-makers in Syria, and during his years of service, Eli handed over to his operators over 100 telegrams containing highly important information about Israels security. This fallen hero is a maklan a hero whose burial place is unknown. To my dear Nadia and my dear family: I am writing to you these last words, a few minutes before my end, and I would like to beg you to be forever united. Former Assad aide: Eli Cohen's burial site unknown, 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. Nadia, widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, shows a photograph of herself with her late husband, during an interview with Reuters in Herzliya, Israel October 6, 2019. In January 1965, Syrian efforts to find a high-level mole were stepped up. Following the Suez Crisis, the Egyptian government stepped up persecution of Jews and expelled many of them. [2], Cohen was born in Alexandria to a devout Jewish and Zionist family in 1924. It takes just a few seconds. Mrs. Cohen takes a seat on the couch across from me and begins to ask us questions just the way any savta would. The Exodus: Those Left Behind // As the exodus from Brooklyn continues, what is happening to the communities and people who remain? Eli Cohen is one of Israel's most famous spies. His heritageof dedication, determination. The leading figure in the break-in was the head of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Su'edani - Eli's nemesis. His work bored him, and he attempted to join the Mossad. We havent touched it yet, its in a frame at the lobby outside the Mossad directors office., Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mossad for an operation whose sole purpose, he said, was to bring back to Israel a memory of a great fighter who contributed greatly to the State of Israel.. He figured things out really quickly, he really liked people, especially our nation and Judaism. The settlement Eliad in the Golan Heights is named after him. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924, the second of eight children in a family of orthodox Jews. Nadia Cohen has not raised the white flag, after 45 years of struggling to see the remains of her husband - legendary spy Eli Cohen - come to Israel. In the meantime, his second daughter, Irit, was born and in October 1964, Eli Cohen returned to Israel in preparation for the birth of his third son, Shai. [15] List of battleships of the United States Navy. In January 1947, he chose to enlist in the Egyptian Army as an alternative to paying the prescribed sum all young Jews were supposed to pay, but was declared ineligible on grounds of questionable loyalty. Cohen, however, was expelled from Egypt along with other Zionist Jews in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis, and he settled in Israel in 1957. Facebook gives people the power to share. . Cohen was said to have been repeatedly interrogated and tortured. Irit currently resides at 2125 East 68 Strt, NY 11234-6011. 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. Eli Cohens brother-in-law, author Sami Michael, Nadias brother, said Eli Cohen was the most famous Israeli agent, and his exploits still nourish and nourish the imagination of many people. Those included the Syrian military attach, Amin al-Hafez, who would later serve as president of Syria. To my dear Nadia and my dear family: Concentrate on yourself, looking forward for a better future! Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. Try this at home // Home remedies that really work. Mossad agent Cohen was put on trial and executed for espionage after he successfully infiltrated the Syrian government under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet for four years. He is best known for his espionage work in 1961 - 1965 in Syria, where he developed close relationships with the political and military hierarchy and became the Chief Adviser to the Minister of Defense. Upon the watchs return to Israel, special research and intelligence operations were carried out which culminated in the unequivocal determination that this was indeed Eli Cohens watch, the Mossad said. [20] In August 2008 Monthir Maosily, the former bureau chief of the late Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad, said that Eli Cohen's burial site is unknown, claiming that the Syrians buried the executed Israeli spy three times, to stop the remains from being brought back to Israel via a special operation. Cohen was a genius spy actor and exceeded all expectations of Mossad. Because of this, Cohen expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last secret visit to Israel in November 1964 to pass intelligence and for the birth of his third child. . For the information he gave me about the new tanks, planes and cannonsAcquired by the Syrians and the deployment of the army in the Golan, had a decisive influence on Israels victory in the northern arena in the Six-Day War, two years after his death. A monument was placed in his memory at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. ", On May 18, 1965, Cohen was publicly hanged in Al-Marjah Square in Damascus. He soon began to transmit information about Syrian military plans back to Israel. After his request to integrate into a more operational activity was rejected, he chose to try his luck in the civilian market. Let there be one patriot who will discover where the body is and give us peace and comfort., She called on the prime minister or the Mossad to fight to bring back Eli., Enough of this torment, that he is there and we are here. # for Twitter hashtag - Twstalker . The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem: Con Michael Aloni, Irit Kaplan, Swell Ariel Or, Hila Saada. His own adviser, who is also the executor far from the house, is far from the family he loved, always anonymous, always under an assumed identity, and he must not be mistaken Eli Cohen was alone in Damascus, working alone, eating alone and sleeping alone. He continued his social life as in Argentina, spending time in cafes listening to political gossip. Still, Israeli Intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. [6][16][17] Cohen, for his part, brought citrus fruits and olive oil from Israel. I felt like it was part of his body, that some of his skin and some of his blood was in that watch, she added. They infiltrated into Syria and were able to purchase the watch and bring it home. It Will Be Good: If he can accept what is happening, why cant I? sit amet porttitor eget. Eli Cohen (hebrisch ; * 3. A few days prior to his execution, he penned this poignant letter to his wife and family, knowing that it would be his last. 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After four years of working undercover, he was caught as he was transmitting a message to Israel and was arrested in January 1965. Son of Sophia and Saul. Nascut a Alexandria, Egipte, de pares jueus sirians d'Alep, va contribuir a activitats . But he returned for one final go at it, unaware that the Syrians had brought in Soviet radio direction finding equipment. He would come to visit them often, and thats how we were acquainted. Can you tell me a little bit about him? I ask. Eli Cohen and his family later moved to Israel. On This Date in 1962, Nazi War Criminal Adolf Eichmann Hanged in Israel, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. After undergoing a series of harsh torture and interrogations lasting about a month, his trial began on 22 February.