This year, at the conclusion of an operation, we succeeded in locating and bringing to Israel the wristwatch that Eli Cohen wore in Syria until the day he was captured. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. What was Eli like? He was a very happy person, very smart. His father had moved there from Aleppo in 1914. After the Sinai Campaign in 1956, mass arrests of Jews were carried out in Egypt, and Eli was arrested for fear of revealing the secret of his visit to Israel and the course he had undergone in Israel, but when he arrived at the police station it became clear that the Egyptian authorities arrested thousands of Jews Without investigation, and he found himself with a large group of Jews in a detention camp. [21] Cohen's brothers, Abraham and Maurice, originally led the campaign to return his remains. Israeli Foreign Minister Golda Meir lead a campaign, demanding the international community to force Damascus to consider the consequences of hanging Cohen. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. He soon began to transmit information about Syrian military plans back to Israel. Later that year, he left university and began studying at home after facing harassment by the Muslim Brotherhood. 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. We dont know where, in what place, in what country. The watch was part of Eli Cohens operational image and part of his fabricated Arab identity, he added. 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Because of his friendship with the activists in one of the cells, they asked him to rent a room for them in the city. Therefore, in 1960 left this position. Elis brother was married to our neighbors sister. Cohen was then informed that the Mossad had decided to recruit him, and underwent an intensive, six-month course at the Mossad training school. And of course, the Mossad bought it and carried out all of the tests to make sure it was the right watch. The Spy, a six-part Netflix miniseries about Cohen's life, showcases the l egendary Mossad agent's relationship. Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? 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. [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. Despite the gravity of the state crime committed by Cohen against Syria, the authorities still allowed him to communicate letters with his wife, children and parents, while in prison. His friends, for whom he rented the room, Dr. Moshe Marzuk and Sami (Shmuel) Ezer, were tried and executed by hanging, and Eli decided to enlist in Israeli intelligence to continue their path and avenge their death. [citation needed], In 1955, a sabotage unit, made of Jewish Egyptian citizens and recruited by Israel's secret police, operated against their native Egypt and attempted to destroy Egyptian relationships with western powers. Irit, and Shaoul, also to all my family, especially to my . rutrum quueon tellus orci. Today my thirst is for knowledge. He wanted to accomplish big things for his country. How did he get involved with the Mossad? I ask. lorem ipsum dolor s Justizreform und Todesstrafe: Der erste Besuch des israelischen Auenministers Eli Cohen in Deutschland offenbarte erhebliche Differenzen zwischen der Bundesregierung und dem rechts-religisen . "The complete trust Cohen enjoyed among his unwitting informants is illustrated by the following incident, which might have had serious consequences for Cohen. Cohen was said to have been repeatedly interrogated and tortured. During which they corresponded and Nadia described how Sophie, their eldest daughter, was crawling, that her teeth had grown and that she was already saying mother and father. None of his acquaintances had any idea that he was spying on behalf of the state. Eli Cohens daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. They would have three children, Sophie, Irit and Shai. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Look after them thoroughly, bring them up and give them a complete education, dont deprive them or yourself of anything. I am begging you, my dear Nadia, not to spend your time in weeping about something already passed. Eli Cohen was an Israeli spy in Damascus whose efforts led to the saving of countless Israeli lives in the 1960's. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (1924-1965) is best known for his espionage work in. Survived by Raya Nadia, three children Sophie, Irit and Shai; Mother Sophia, and seven brothers and sisters Odette, Morris, Ezra, Sarah, Zion Ephraim and Abraham. The trial of Eli Cohen (left), Damascus, 1965 - AFP. Nadia said: He used to sit around the house for days and nights and decipher maps. Meanwhile in Bat Yam, Israel, only 135 miles away from Damascus, the Cohen family, Elis mother, his wife Nadia, and his siblings, sat huddled in the living room of their crowded apartment as their husband, son, and brother was led to the gallows to be killed for his crimes. 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. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. Some sources claim that he had established a good friendship with Amin al-Hafiz. 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. In 1957, Cohen was recruited by the Israel Defense Forces, and was placed in military intelligence, where he became a counterintelligence analyst. You can get remarried in order not to deprive the children of a father. He was also shomer masoret; he wasnt very religious, but he was very traditional. Eli Cohen was an Israeli spy who operated an undercover mission in Syria, between 1961 and 1965. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. It remains our obligation to bring Eli home, to bury him in Israel, Pardo said at the event. His short trip to Buenos Aires lasted eight months. 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. He was known only as 566 in the Intelligence HQs. Irit was born on 08.21.72. She is completely alone on the battlefield but still determined and shocked at the very question whether she is ready to surrender. [7] [9] Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, hoping to persuade the Syrians not to execute him. 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. 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. Irit can also be referred to using alternative name, like Irit A Bershadsky, Irit Bershadsky, Irit Cohen, Irit Brshadsky. There was no longer anything they could do. [19] Er war als Vizeprsident fr das Unternehmen Israel Land Development Company ttig. 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. All Rights Reserved. He worked as a translator and an accountant before once again being recruited by Israeli intelligence in 1960. 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. Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen, Irit Cohen: Siblings: Maurice Cohen, Abraham Cohen: Star Sign: Sagittarius # Fact; 1: Father of Kaipu Cohen: Actor . Eli Cohen, publicly hanged in Al-Marjeh Square, Damascus on 18 May 1965, After a trial before a military tribunal, he was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death under 'martial law'. ? Eli Cohen took his last few steps to the stool on which hed stand for his execution. Eli Cohen was born in Egypt in a Jewish family. The images were broadcast live on Syrian TV and were being watched by thousands around the world. In Israel, Eli Cohen's faced . He had seventeen lovers in Syria, all dazzling beauties with a fair degree of family power. At a ceremony at Mossad headquarters, Director Yossi Cohen presented the watch to Cohens family. 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. Receive my blessings to all of you. My soul. nadia cohen age. Eli, who would feign intoxication, remained sober and listened carefully." Yuval Scharf. The watch, she said, was not kept in pristine condition, but its moving to know dad touched it. The Mossad released a statement on the recovery of Cohens watch stating: After Eli Cohens execution on May 18, 1965, the wristwatch was held by an enemy state. Irit Cohen Student at Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin Austin, Texas, United States 19 connections For now, the watch is all they have and will have to suffice. After completing further training, Cohen was sent in 1961 to Buenos Aires, where he posed as an expatriate Syrian businessman. During Elis time in Egypt, prior to his emigration to Israel, he worked for the Mossad. Were you aware of this when you married him? Of course not, she says. Corrections? Despite Cohens considerable talent for espionage, he displayed a tendency for carelessness, ignoring his Israeli handlers warnings against sending radio transmissions too frequently or always at the same time of day. [2], Cohen was born in Alexandria to a devout Jewish and Zionist family in 1924. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! Cohen grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, the son of Syrian Jewish parents. Those included the Syrian military attach, Amin al-Hafez, who would later serve as president of Syria. The intelligence he gathered is claimed to have been an important factor in Israel's success in the Six Day War. Avraham; 7 episodios 2021-2022 7 episodios 2021-2022. Cohen was an Israeli spy who was initially rejected by Mossad. 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 . He worked as a translator and an accountant before once again being recruited by Israeli intelligence in 1960. Even in death there is jealousy, that [others can] embrace a grave [in mourning] and we dont even have that.. The film, called The Impossible Spy, was broadcast on the Al Arabiya network throughout the Middle East. Would you like a drink? she asks. Cohen studierte nach seinem Militrdienst an der Universitt Tel Aviv und an der Open University of Israel Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Screenshot from footage showing Israeli spy Eli Cohen placed in a coffin after his execution by hanging in Damascus, Syria on May 18, 1965. Foi vrias vezes interrogado e torturado. This one may not rate up there with some of the other coups that Mossad has pulled off, like the incredible stealing of Irans nuclear files, but the retrieval of a wristwatch that was owned by Eli Cohen is important because of the symbolism of what it means more than the watch itself. His remains were not retrieved by Israel and the regime in Syria has claimed it does not know where he is buried. Eli has been dead for 40 years now, and though I did not kill him, I am fully aware that my failure to disclose what I knew my have sealed his fate. Parents passed out sweets among their children, while lively music played. Even after more than 50 years, the Mossad didnt forget their man and tracked down the watch and the location and learned that it was for sale. Eli Cohen, enforcado em pblico no Marjeh Square, Damasco em 18 de maio de 1965 Cohen foi considerado culpado pela prtica de espionagem por um tribunal militar e sentenciado morte sob lei marcial. The daughter of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen said Sunday "it hurt" to watch the new Netflix series about her father's life and execution in Syria, lamenting some historical inaccuracies in. In January 1962 he traveled from Italy to Beirut on his way to Damascus, and on the deck of the ship he connected with another immigrant who had also returned to the homeland and through which he began to establish ties with the Syrian elite. From this trip to me came a completely different man, Nadia said, with a mustache, he gained weight, he came back with a very high self-confidence and I was Simcha I saw that he loved what he was doing, that he was exhausting his abilities. Memorial stone reading Eliahu (Eli) Cohen, in the "Garden of the Missing Soldiers" on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Eli was born in Alexandria, Egypt. [12] After Hafiz became Prime Minister, Cohen may even have been considered for the position of Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense,[13] although Hafiz's secretary has denied that this was the case. In August 1961 he left Argentina for me. Were really pleased that youve read, Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. So now we have a request. 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. # for Twitter hashtag - Twstalker . Eli Cohen, born in 1924, was raised in a devout Jewish family in Alexandria, Egypt. Eli Cohen became certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. After his death he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. is included in the archives of The Associated Press, Syrian art treasures , , sought the assistance of the United States, Already a member? 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. Eliahu (Eli) ben Shaoul Cohen (Hebrew: We were scared that Israel would send forces to take away the body. To my dear Nadia and my dear family: We assume that Robert S Mitchell and Ofira Babayoff were among six dwellers or residents at this . Because patient co-insurance is calculated on the basis of list prices, they matter to patients. Eli Cohen had sacrificed everything for his people and now the badly humiliated Syrians were about to take revenge. With the assistance of the Jewish Agency, he emigrated to Israel, arriving in the Israeli port of Haifa in a vessel travelling from Naples, Italy.[3][4]. Will Bibis legacy be a new constitution for Israel or civil war? He would host parties and act intoxicated although he was always sober and hed ply the Syrian military officers with liquor to loosen their tongues. After large amounts of radio interference were detected and traced to their source, on 24 January Syrian security officers broke into Cohen's apartment where he was caught in the middle of transmission to Israel. Details of his espionage tactics are classified and most probably will never be revealed to public. It takes just a few seconds. Using the alias Kamal Amin Thaabet, Cohen made numerous contacts in the Syrian expatriate community in Argentina and soon gained the trust of senior officials working in the Syrian embassy there. For two weeks he was put under surveillance, and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. Requests by Cohen's family for his remains to be returned to Israel have been rejected by the Syrian authorities (as of September 2012). The settlement Eliad in the Golan Heights is named after him. Im 83 years old, she says with the air of someone who is seasoned. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. Eli Cohen, Israel's most famous spy, also happened to be a hopeless romantic. He wrote in encrypted French and used a tiny radio transmitter. The coups leader, Amin al-Hafez, continued to favour Cohen, and he reportedly considered appointing him deputy minister of defense. Before his execution, he was allowed to meet with Rabbi Nissim Andibu-Cohen, the Chief Rabbi of the Damascus Jewish Community, who strengthened his spirit and prayed with him on the customary prayers. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). His heritageof dedication, determination, courage, and love of the homelandis our heritage. Hundreds were deported to Etel A year later, at the age of thirty-three, Eli and his family immigrated to Israel, many of whom came from the Jewish community in Alexandria, settling in Bat Yam because of their proximity to the sea and in accordance with their economic abilities. Landia said he would be fired but would soon find another job, and after a few weeks he was admitted to the unit called The Mossad. Landia said that he had been hired for a secret factory connected to the government,Skating, photography, including microfilms, adaptations to the area and to the Arab population, the study of prayer, the Koran and the customs of Islam, a visit to the mosques and the adoption of the Syrian dialect. * * * 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. Eli Cohen, the most famous Israeli spy, was executed by hanging on May 18, 1965. He made an effort to see maps of tiny buildings and some of them to build mosques, buildings, soccer fields, and basketball courts. One of the ministry's directors entered the room unannounced. He also held parties at his home, which turned into orgies for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others, who used Cohen's apartment "for assignations with various women, including Defense Ministry secretaries, airline hostesses, and Syrian singing stars." To this day, the Syrians refuse to discuss the return of a suspectHis death. [1], In 2005, he was voted the 26th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis. 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eli-Cohen, Jewish Virtual Library - Biography of Eli Cohen. This year, at the conclusion of an operation, we succeeded in locating and bringing to Israel the wristwatch that Eli Cohen wore in Syria until the day he was captured. 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