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. 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. He became far less careful in his transmissions to Israel, sometimes calling once or even twice a day and almost always at the same time, at 8:30 in the morning. Were they not interested? Even today Syria refuses to return his body for burial in Israel. 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. Hafiz ordered Cohen's execution after he was convicted of espionage in 1965. later he handed with Syrian passport in name of kamal Amin tabet, he advised to open a bank account in that name and start visiting Arab restaurants, the cinema where Arab movies are shown, and political club. had succeeded in friending a Saudi entrepreneur who had been contracted to plan and dig canals, the name was his friend was bin Laden, little Osama's father. It was after Atassi resigned on July 27 that Hafiz was named president. On 29 December 2022, Cohen was sworn in as Foreign Minister alongside a new government, and will rotate the position with Israel Katz. One of his friends found a new job as an accountant, month later he Marty with Nadia, a nurse of Iraqi origin. In 'The Spy,' Sacha Baron Cohen Gets Serious : NPR Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. Eli Cohen - Jewish Virtual Library In November 1965, Eli's wife wrote to Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad, requesting him to send Elis remains back to Israel. 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. One day they took Eli to visit the Syrian positions along Israel's border. [29] Mossad director Yossi Cohen presented it to Cohen's family in a ceremony, and it is currently on display at Mossad headquarters. Eli was, however, taken in by 'Mossad' when Director-General Meir Amit was in search of a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government. At Kfar Habad, on July 29, 1977, at the joint Bar Mitzvah for 100 fatherless boys, in the presence of Prime Minister. The agent replied: "Will do, thanks K". In March 1963, General Hafez, Eli's friend was appointed minister of defense in salah Al-Birat's cabinet. But in 1965, he was unmasked. He genuinely fit into life in the Syrian capital, and he was never suspected of being a spy until almost the very end. He then underwent a show trial, like the Operation Susannah spies had in Egypt 12 years before., Like them, his verdict was predetermined. [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. Nadia, however, never remarried. Nadia was told that Eli was working for the ministry of defense and would be completely safe. Nadia Cohen: The Untold Story of the wife of Eli Cohen In 2016, Nadia told 'Israel Radio' that former 'Mossad' chief Meir Dagan had asked the US officials to help bring Elis remains. [8], Israel's secret police recruited a sabotage unit of Jewish Egyptian citizens in 1955 which attempted to undermine Egypt's relationships with western powers in the "Lavon Affair". 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. tabet sends it to Argentina, where his friend dispatches them to Israel with a diplomatic pouch. 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. Today, one can see the former Syrian bunkers that remain on the Golan Heights from 1967 (as well as the tanks from 1973). Eli was friends with two highly placed Army officers, Colonels Hatoum and Dali, who were fully informed about the scheme. Using Biton, Israel "fed" Egypt with false intelligence that reportedly contributed to the Six Day War victory. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. Cohen established his contact quickly, his letter of recommendation opened the gates to high society. 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. Cohen's brothers Abraham and Maurice led a campaign to return his remains; Maurice died in 2006, and Nadia now leads it. Fortunately, several were easy to spot, for they . Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. Sacha Baron Cohen in 'The Spy' as Eli Cohen. they made great efforts to locate the secret transmission to Israel with help of Soviet-made equipment, in January 1965 they got success. Eli Cohen (politician born 1972) - Wikipedia Eli married Iraqi Jewish Nadia Majald, sister of Hebrew author Sami Michael, in 1959. [4] His father had moved there from Aleppo in 1914. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Over the years, her relationship with the Mossad and that of her children, Sophie Ben-Dor, Irit Peleg and Shai Cohen, unraveled. Syria tortures him but he was still lying, his face was covered with wounds, his nail was pulled out. The news spread everywhere that the Syrian leader is a spy, a president friend, a millionaire. His graduate report stated that he had all the qualities needed to become a katsa, or field agent. 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. When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. Israeli intelligence was particularly excited about Cohen . 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. Israeli spy's widow 'hurt' by Netflix biopic, but welcomes publicity [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. 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. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. Recalling Elis final days, Nadia states he was in Bat Yam, with her and the three babies. The text messages between Khalid and the NZSIS. One of the more famous aspects of his spying regarded a trip he took to the Golan Heights. 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. I had gotten under his cover," said Maurice Cohen. 4 Min Read. Eli's wife Nadia, played by Hadar Ratzon Rotem, has to deal with raising two children without her husband, who disappears for up to a year at a time without being allowed to tell her what he's actually doing or even where he is. 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. In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935, [10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. No film or video was previously known to exist of the execution. He set up a travel agency in Tel Aviv and developed ties with the upper echelons of Israeli society, including politicians. However, running a double agent is considered to be one of the most complex missions in intelligence work. Still, the memory of those domestic joys sustains Cohen while hes away. At these parties, Cohen "dispensed free-flowing liquor and prostitutes",[1] and highly placed officials would openly discuss their work and army plans. Scheffeldt, 63, is the widow of Rifa'at al-Gamal, an Egyptian spy who reportedly operated in Israel for a number of years. 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. They warned me not to discuss the issue with Eli anymore and to share his secret with no one.". In early 1964, Eli was able to radio Tel Aviv that the channel was being dug along the entire length of the Syrian Heights to receive the diverted flow of the Baniyas River - one of the Jordans major sources - and empty into Jordanian territory. Eli carefully spelled out all the details of the project and passed them on to Israeli Intelligence. Cohen later. On April 15, 2019, a few Israeli news agencies published unconfirmed reports of Eli's remains being recovered in Syria and stated that the remains were with a Russian delegation. 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 mother. You're not alone. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. Its unfamiliar to me, this form of expression in a global television series. Nadia and 'Mossad' were on bad terms until Meir Dagan was made the agencys chief. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. I think as long as Bashar Assad is in power I dont see the word progress,' she said, referring to Syrias dictator. [7][9] The Israel Defense Forces recruited him in 1957 and placed him in military intelligence, where he became a counter-intelligence analyst. After some months, Abdel Latif Hassan introduces Eli to General Amin El-Hafez, the military attache at the embassy. Two of them were Abraham and Maurice. the plan was doomed from staring, one of the bombs exploded in the pocket of Philip Natanson and was arrested by police and other members were caught in the following days. 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. Their youngest child, Shai, was only 21 days old then.