Eli was friends with two highly placed Army officers, Colonels Hatoum and Dali, who were fully informed about the scheme. Steve Cohen's daughter Sophia splits from fianc - Page Six A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. The daughter of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen said Sunday it hurt to watch the new Netflix series about her fathers life and execution in Syria, lamenting some historical inaccuracies in the adaptation but praising Sacha Baron Cohens performance. In 1960, the national intelligence agency of Israel, 'Mossad,' approached Eli for a classified mission in Syria. I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has passed. [12], He was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina. 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. In 1961, Eli was sent to Buenos Aires in the guise of a Syrian textile businessman. [7][9], Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. For a while, Cohen tried his hand at civilian life. [34], The Israeli settlement Eliad on the Golan Heights is named for him.[35]. They even started to organize a ceremony for Eli at the 'Mossad' headquarters in Glilot. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. Born Country:- Iraq Wife/Husband/Ex:- Eli Cohen (m. 1959-1965) Children:- Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen 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. 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. He organized several protest campaigns against the British rule. Al-Hafidh then sent his bank details, but the deal went cold. I am writing you these last words, minutes before my end, with the hope that you stay together forever. On May 18, 1965, Eli was publicly hanged at the Marjeh Square in Damascus, Syria. The newly appointed Syrian intelligence colonel, Ahmed Su'edani, disliked Eli. Eli Cohen was now a member of the inner circle of power. 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. The Spy is an aesthetically flawed portrait of Eli Cohen Israel could be the target of an aggressive attack by a larger, better Egyptian army that wanted to avenge its shameful defect in the Israel Independence War. Meir even appealed to the Soviet Union. 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. Text messages sent from an NZSIS agent called "Carl" appear to show him brokering a deal. Spy Eli Cohen Wife Love Story, American History Has Been Whitewashed, But, Black Teen Girls On TV Are A Mess Finally. Cohens contacts, nurtured through a string of lavish dinner parties, social occasions, and friendships with those in high places, led to invitations to visit Damascus and to set up a business venture there. On September 20, 2016, an unknown Syrian group named 'Syrian Art Treasures' posted a 'Facebook' video showing Eli's body after his execution. In 'The Spy,' Sacha Baron Cohen Gets Serious : NPR In order to capture the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israeli soldiers had to knock out a number of well-fortified Syrian outposts. But in 1965, he was unmasked. 'The Spy' Creator Gideon Raff on the True, 'Heartbreaking' Love Story Military Stories site will provide you the latest News related to military. Confused, he took the case to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, the official responsible for supervising New Zealand's two main intelligence agencies, telling him he could have solved the 53-year-old mystery. The Syrian project to divert water from the headwaters of the Jordan away from Israel was mentioned already in the above introduction. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Antoni Porowski Talks New Cookbook, Recipes and Tradition in Cooking, Netflix's 'The Spy': Eli Cohen's Remains Still a Mystery, How to Watch True Crime Series 'Unbelievable' on Netflix. In the show, Cohenas Thaabetbefriends Hafiz in Buenos Aires and later in Damascus helps Hafiz's Ba'ath party seize power. Nadia was told that Eli was working for the ministry of defense and would be completely safe. their chief noticed that their decision taken by the government was broadcast to Israel. As we saw, the Syrians continually harassed Israels northern settlements from 1948-67. In 1954, Egyptian authorities arrested Eli for being a terror suspect. From the creation of Israel through, the present day, Syria has been one, if not the most, implacable of Israels enemies. As Intelligence Chief Meir Amit said, Eli succeeded far beyond the capabilities of most other men.. In the footsteps of a spy: Exploring the Golan's Eli Cohen Trail Nadia Cohen: The Untold Story of the wife of Eli Cohen 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. It doesnt fit our story but I understand the situation. Unending Agony for Legendary Spy Eli Cohen and His Widow [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. Eli Cohen's son, Shaul, was only 2 weeks old when he last saw his father. After several days, Eli got a new identity as Kamal Amin Tablet, son of Syrian parents, born in Beirut. Still, the memory of those domestic joys sustains Cohen while hes away. Also in Episode 5, viewers see Hafiz assume power after demanding the resignation of Syria's then-president, Nazim al-Qudsi. Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. 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. Ben-Dor was pessimistic that Israel would soon be able to retrieve her fathers body from Syria. Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. What is perhaps most amazing about Eli Cohen is that he was genuinely liked even loved by so many of the top Syrian leaders. Since then, Nadia has always counted on him. This is adefinitive andfinal verdict. But Sophie was born without seeing his father. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. Fiyaz Mughal,Eli Cohens body must be returned to Israel, The JC, (Undated). they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant Zaher Al-Din took Eli to the El Hama military camp, where large quantities of new weapons had been stored. [31] A memorial stone has been erected to Cohen in the Garden of the Missing Soldiers in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem. Daniel Sonnenfeld,55 years after execution in Syria, Israeli spy Eli Cohen makes headlines,Jerusalem Post, February 27, 2021). There is always the risk that the agent remains loyal to his original handlers and has managed to fool his new bosses. He then left the university and continued his studies at home. Syria tortures him but he was still lying, his face was covered with wounds, his nail was pulled out. In January 1965, Syrian security officers broke into Elis apartment while he was in the middle of his escape to Israel. Scheffeldt said that her husband never revealed his true identity, and she learned of it only after a television series aired in Egypt that described him as a national hero. In 1963, during a business trip to Germany, he met Weltrude Scheffeldt, a divorcee, then 22 and with a small child, and married her. 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.. Elis friendship with Amin al-Hafez proved very valuable. I am begging you my dear Nadia not to spend your time in weeping about some thing already passed. A number were only released 14 years later, after the 1967 War. At first, he refused. Elis connections enabled him to be taken to the Golan Heights a major strategic asset for Syria from 1948-67. Melita Norwood | longest-serving British spy | Melita Norwood Book, Death, Family, Daughter | melita norwood images. Kamal Amin Taabet (also called Tabas in some sources) was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Syrian Muslim parents. It hurt. For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office. (PMO), Sacha Baron Cohen as Israeli spy Eli Cohen in The Spy (YouTube screenshot), Mossad spy Eli Cohen, executed in Syria in 1965. Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur, Defense Minister Ezer Weizmann, and many Mossad officials attended Eli's son's bar mitzvah in 1977. Cohen immigrated to Israel in 1957 and was recruited by Military Intelligence, to a unit that later became part of the Mossad. 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. 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. 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. Nadia wishes to be buried beside Elis grave. He continued his social life, spending a lot of time in cafes listening to political gossip. On his last visit, in 1964, he told intelligence officers he wanted to come in from the cold because he was concerned a new Syrian intelligence commander did not like him. 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. His first assignment was to infiltrate the Jewish community of Alexandria. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. "The moment that they informed me [of the watch's recovery] my mouth went dry and I got the chills," Nadia told Israeli TV. Israeli foreign minister Golda Meir led a campaign urging Damascus to consider the consequences of hanging him. Eli was arrested but soon released due to a lack of evidence. He then moved to Damascus in February 1962, under his new identity, Kamel Amin Thaabet, to extract classified information from Syrian military officers. How is it that you dare allow a stranger to read a classified document? he angrily asked Saif. 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. At the beginning of the 1956 War, when Israel occupied the Sinai, Eli Cohen was detained by the Egyptian authorities, and was expelled from Egypt along with the remainder of Alexandrian Jews at the end of the war. Eli had lost his friends, in 1957 he immigrates to Israel. But in 2018, Cohens watch was retrieved in a secret Mossad scheme. The following year, Syria found out about Cohen by tracing his intelligence transmissions to Israel. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. 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. He was a legend," I declare. 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. At the end of 1961, Syria dissolved its union with Egypt, which had lasted a mere three years. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. The leading figure in the break-in was the head of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Suedani Elis nemesis. [15], Cohen moved to Damascus in February 1962 under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet (Arabic: ). She has pleaded for years and is still waiting to receive Eli's body. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. Eli seemed to have completed the final stage in establishing his network. Eli visited other Arab friends as Abdel Latif Hassan and his briefcase was full of enthusiastic letters of recommendation. 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]. The agent replied: "Will do, thanks K". Eli started transmitting his message to Israel daily at 8 a.m. After six months kamal Amin tabet become well known. On 29 December 2022, Cohen was sworn in as Foreign Minister alongside a new government, and will rotate the position with Israel Katz. His wife, Nadia, would be left a widow with three very young children. Eli studied at a local Jewish community school and then attended the 'University of Alexandria' to study electrical engineering. 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. It, however, did not change the situation. Periodically Eli would return to Israel to speak with his Israeli handlers and visit his wife and small children. 4 Min Read. Nadia Cohen attempted to appeal for clemency at the Syrian Embassy in Paris but was turned away. I want him (Yossi Cohen) to clarify what hapepned," said the 84-year-old. Eli's second instructor Yehuda taught him how to use a small, sophisticated radio transmitter. They observed a period of radio silence, in the hope that any illegal transmissions could be identified. "Sophie's. I hope, pray, that he will be returned home by the time I die," Nadia told Haaretz in 2010. The 2019 'Netflix' miniseries 'The Spy' had actor Sacha Baron Cohen portraying Eli. However, Eli's loyalty was scrutinized, and he faced harassment by the 'Muslim Brotherhood.' He arrived in Israel on February 8, 1957. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. 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. Cohen heads to Germany to discuss Iran uranium enrichment, IRGC For four years, Cohen posed as a Syrian textile businessman named Kamal Amin Thabet, first in Argentina and later in Damascus. He was also allowed to write a final letter to his wife. Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has passed. Earlier communication between the alleged son and the intelligence agency reveals Al-Hafidh was adamant on receiving the money. Despite being away from home for months at a time, he fathered three children, Sophie, Irit and Shai. The children could not react to Eli's absence. If I wanted something, I called, they put me through to him immediately. [6] Cohen spoke five languages fluently. He was driven to the airport, where his wife Nadia saw him off. The message was passed on to the Syrians, who arrested Cohen. "We have six grandchildren," she says with pride as she points to a family photo on the wall. 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. I give you my blessing. [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. Despite this, however, Israeli intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. The transmissions became longer as well. Returning to Nadia is Cohens ultimate goal. 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. Source:The Pedagogic Center, The Department for Jewish Zionist Education, The Jewish Agency for Israel, (c) 1992-2007. He lasted until just July that year when he resigned in protest of the Ba'ath military committee executing dissenting rivals who tried to stage a coup for power. in Israel, he found the job of translating weekly and monthly magazines for a man after a few months he was fired. 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. One of his friends found a new job as an accountant, month later he Marty with Nadia, a nurse of Iraqi origin. He worked as an accountant and translator. Cohen had aided the unit and was implicated, but they found no link between him and the perpetrators. Concentrate on yourself, looking forward for a better future! Last year, Israel was able to retrieve Cohens wristwatch from Syria and return it to his family. Cohen later. As a young adult, he worked within Egypt to secretly assist other Egyptian Jews in emigrating to Israel. Using Biton, Israel "fed" Egypt with false intelligence that reportedly contributed to the Six Day War victory. The Golan is not only important for its military significance. 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. 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. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. . This coincided with the continuance of Palestinian terrorist infiltrators arriving from the Syrian border, along with a continual flow of Soviet technical assistance to Syria. Double Agent's Widow Offers New Take on Eli Cohen Affair His successes couldn't be vocally shared with his family, however. Were they not interested? Why Mossad's Retrieval of Eli Cohen's Watch Matters - SOFREP Eli was caught in the act and there was nothing he could do. [9], In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935,[10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. 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. I want him, here and now, because I've reached the age that I deserve tranquillity. His parents, Syrian Jews from the thriving town of Aleppo, had always instilled in their educationally minded son the traditions of the Jewish people, of Zionism, and of the culture of Syrias Jewish community, in particular.. Eventually, they had three children: Sophie Ben-Dor, Irit Peleg, and Shai Cohen. [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. 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. In early 1961, Chaim Herzog, Chief of Military Intelligence and later president of Israel, signed the document authorizing Cohens use as a spy. 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. The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the. Show creator Gideon Raff's limited series has brought renewed attention to the life and work of Eli Cohen. They had three children, Sophie, Irit, and Shai. Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: 'When he was caught, something died 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). Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. Nadia Majald, and together they had three children. 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. Still Ben-Dor, who was four years old when her father was killed, said she was pleasantly surprised by actor Cohens portrayal. 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. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. However, running a double agent is considered to be one of the most complex missions in intelligence work. Please try again or choose an option below. The watch is now on display at the 'Mossad' headquarters. 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. ", "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. Eli could watch the entrance to the Syrian government officials' guest house. [9], Syria refused to return Cohen's body to his family in Israel, and his wife Nadia sent a letter to Amin al-Hafiz in November 1965 asking his forgiveness for Cohen's actions and requesting his remains. When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. he soon became a well-known figure in the Arab circle. 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. The execution was recorded on 35mm film. After his execution, a white parchment filled with anti-Zionist writing was put on his body, and he was left hanging for six hours. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. The previous year, which marked Elis 50th death anniversary, Nadia had addressed a memorial dedicated to him. tabet sends it to Argentina, where his friend dispatches them to Israel with a diplomatic pouch. While there, he gained the trust of Amin al-Hafez, who would later become Syrias president. The Israel Defense Forces were alleged to have used the trees as targeting markers during the Six-Day War, which enabled Israel to capture the Golan Heights in two days. All these years, I remained faithful to him. One day they took Eli to visit the Syrian positions along Israel's border. 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. Eli found out about Syria's secret plan to attack the Israeli defense forces. The text messages between Khalid and the NZSIS. She smiles. She understood from him that he would be working for the Ministry of Defense, but she didnt know where or in what capacity. 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. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. It takes just a few seconds. Eli Cohen was first sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to establish his cover as a Syrian emigre. 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. In August 2008, Assad's former bureau chief, Monthir Maosily, revealed that Eli had been buried thrice and that Israel would never receive his body.
Accelerate Withdrawal Button,
Sims 4 Change Day Of Week Cheat,
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Physical Method Of Pest Control,
Articles E