one after the other 69 people were arrested. Nadia and 'Mossad' were on bad terms until Meir Dagan was made the agencys chief. children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen, place of death: Al Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria, See the events in life of Eli Cohen in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubQ6b-9OewI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ9cUmvkgmg. [11] Start with Mossad [ edit] Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924, the second of eight children in a family of orthodox Jews. . I give you my blessing. Spouse/Ex-: Eli Cohen (m. 1959-1965) children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen Born Country: Iraq Family Members Iraqi Female Life with Eli Nadia (born Nadia Majald) is an Iraqi Jew who got married to Eli on August 31, 1959. [22], It is claimed that the intelligence that Cohen gathered before his arrest was an important factor in Israel's success in the Six-Day War,[23] although some intelligence experts have argued that the information he provided about the Golan Heights fortifications was also readily available from ground and aerial reconnaissance. Where Is Nadia Cohen Now? In 1962 Eli cohen was in Damascus with crowded mosques and colorful souks, he rented a luxurious villa in the classy Abu Ramen neighborhood, close to the Syrian embassy. But he refused). One of the more famous aspects of his spying regarded a trip he took to the Golan Heights. On September 20, 2016, an unknown Syrian group named 'Syrian Art Treasures' posted a 'Facebook' video showing Eli's body after his execution. He made friends with many of the guests and ended up receiving classified military briefings and visiting Syrian military sites. "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. they made great efforts to locate the secret transmission to Israel with help of Soviet-made equipment, in January 1965 they got success. 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. "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? His captors later remarked on his noble bearing and his courage despite the horrific Syrian interrogation methods. It was approved by, The head of the presidency council on 17/5/1965, Top 10 Weakest Militaries in the World | The Bahamas, Central African Republic, The Gambia,Barbados, Somalia, Luxembourg military power, MiG-29 vs. Su-27: The Soviet Union's Two Top Fighters Went Head to Head in an East African Air War, Ravindra Kaushik RAW Agent ( Black Tiger) Wife, son, Death reason, | Facts about Ravindra Kaushik | Ravindra Kaushik Movie, Israel's Iron Dome Vs S-400 Russian Comparison, Price, Success Rate | Iron Dome vs S400 which is better, Top amazing facts about RAW and Agent : History, Foundation, Joining , Department of RAW, Eli Cohen Wife, Children | Israeli Spy biography | Last Letter to his wife and Children | Eli Cohen death writing translation | george seif syria. Cohen (Sacha Baron Cohen) was the kind of guy to leave his wife spontaneous love letters throughout the house. Nadia, widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, reacts during an interview with Reuters in Herzliya, Israel October 6, 2019. . Diplomats, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and Pope Paul VI tried to intercede. Still, the memory of those domestic joys sustains Cohen while hes away. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. The execution was broadcast on Syrian television. Others have attributed the carelessness to an almost suicidal tendency perhaps, it was later surmised, he had been in the undercover world too long, but knew he couldnt get out of it. For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office. Eli Cohen was first sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to establish his cover as a Syrian emigre. Israel has had a quiet northern border on the Golan with the exception of some occasional fallout from the Syrian civil war for more than 40years. tabet sends it to Argentina, where his friend dispatches them to Israel with a diplomatic pouch. His widow mentioned that the watch was up for sale months earlier, and Mossad managed to capture it. "It was all for good intentions. Israel's minister of defense Pinhas Lavon and colonel Benyamin Gibli head of military intelligence, concocted a dangerous and foolish plan if several terrorist bombings were swept Egypt, the British will return to its former bases and concluded that Egypt's couldn't maintain law and order. At this time the Ba'ath Party was illegal in Syria but the party seized power in 1963. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. Learn more. He was a legend," I declare. Nadia believed it and went to see him off at the airport in 1961. I had gotten under his cover," said Maurice Cohen. 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]. "Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future!". Eli was arrested but soon released due to a lack of evidence. Eli married Iraqi Jewish Nadia Majald, sister of Hebrew author Sami Michael, in 1959. By Lianne Back. Cohen accepted the calling. She smiles. His wife, Nadia, would be left a widow with three very young children. I give you my blessing. when you were three, your family left Lebanon and moved to Egypt Alexandria. 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. If indeed Biton was a double agent - and Israeli intelligence prides itself on the quality of his work - then it is difficult to believe that he exposed Cohen. [9], In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935,[10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. I want him (Yossi Cohen) to clarify what hapepned," said the 84-year-old. In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935, [10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. Eli Cohen was now a member of the inner circle of power. However, running a double agent is considered to be one of the most complex missions in intelligence work. They even started to organize a ceremony for Eli at the 'Mossad' headquarters in Glilot. He worked as an accountant and translator. Altogether, he returned to Israel three times between 1962 and 1965. 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.". In the show, Cohenas Thaabetbefriends Hafiz in Buenos Aires and later in Damascus helps Hafiz's Ba'ath party seize power. Eli, who would feign intoxication, remained sober and listened carefully., In addition to providing loans to government officials and acting as an avid host, he was asked for advice by government officials, who were often intoxicated by the alcohol he freely provided. However, Eli's loyalty was scrutinized, and he faced harassment by the 'Muslim Brotherhood.' In 1949, his parents and three brothers moved to Israel while Eli remained in Egypt to coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities there. - From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. The Spy sees a friendship blossoming between Eli Cohen and Amin al-Hafiz, the future president of Syria, that begins as Cohen first goes undercover as Thaabet in Buenos Aires and mutually benefits them both for yearsright through to Cohen's discovery as an Israeli spy and subsequent execution. It was hard to see the distance from the truth in some parts of the series, Sophie Ben-Dor said in an interview with Channel 12 news. It is for these reasons Eli Cohen is known as Israels greatest spy. In February 1961 one man handed him an Israeli passport in his real name and a plane ticket to Zurich.on his arrival, Eli was met by a white-haired man who gave him a passport from another name, that passport carried an entry visa to chile and a transit visa to Argentina. He was stunned by the precision of the Israeli bombing during the 1964 attack. As Intelligence Chief Meir Amit said, Eli succeeded far beyond the capabilities of most other men.. HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - A Netflix drama about Israeli spy Eli Cohen, who infiltrated the Syrian government in the 1960s and was later executed, has received a . All these years, I remained faithful to him. 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. 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. Eli's second instructor Yehuda taught him how to use a small, sophisticated radio transmitter. The information he had been providing them for years was too good to forego. Cohen would pretend to be drunk to encourage such conversations, to which he paid close attention. [12][20][21] Cohen was able to find out that the Syrians planned to divert the Jordan River headwaters in an attempt to deprive Israel of water resources, providing information to Israeli forces that enabled them to destroy the equipment prepared for the task. 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. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. [5] He studied at Cairo Farouk University. These skills were instrumental in ensuring the safety and survival of one Kamal Amin Taabet: Eli Cohens new identity. Following Israel's independence in 1949, when Jewish families were leaving Egypt, Eli stayed back to finish his electronics degree. 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. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. Employment was not always steady, and he soon had to rely more on Nadia to help support their marriage, which would quickly lead to children. "It works with a range of international intelligence agencies,'' the NZSIS said in response. She also said she understood and respected the show. Eli Cohenhad 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. His successes couldn't be vocally shared with his family, however. The 2019 'Netflix' miniseries 'The Spy' had actor Sacha Baron Cohen portraying Eli. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. 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. He returned home to his family only a few times during his mission. 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. Eli seemed to have completed the final stage in establishing his network. Later, visiting his sister-in-law, Cohen's wife Nadia, he notices that she has a brand new Singer sewing machine in her home. Sophia Cohen the 26-year-old daughter of billionaire hedge funder and Mets owner Steve Cohen is no longer engaged to her financier boyfriend Jason Levine, Page Six has confirmed. Syria tortures him but he was still lying, his face was covered with wounds, his nail was pulled out. 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. I hope, pray, that he will be returned home by the time I die," Nadia told Haaretz in 2010. Elis larger-than-life persona has attracted many filmmakers, who have then used his story for their projects. This helped the army win the Six-Day War and capture the Golan Heights. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. In 2019, Netflix created the seriesThe SpystarringSacha Baron Cohen to tell his story. In December 1956, the Jewish Agency assisted Eli to deport to Israel in a vessel. [15], Cohen moved to Damascus in February 1962 under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet (Arabic: ). Text messages sent from an NZSIS agent called "Carl" appear to show him brokering a deal. Eli Cohen was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy best known for his espionage work in the 1960s in Syria, where it was alleged he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military. Nine months later, in late 1961, Eli came back to Israel for a visit with his wife Nadia. "There was great excitement because it is essentially the only item of dad that came back, we have nothing. Al-Gamal rushed to inform his superiors that Thabet was none other than Eli Cohen, the Alexandrian Jew. A New Zealander claiming to the son of a former Syrian president, says he knows the whereabouts of the executed Israeli spy's remains, according to a report on New Zealand news service Newshub on Sunday. their chief noticed that their decision taken by the government was broadcast to Israel. 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. "You know, when I was growing up, I heard a tremendous amount about your husband. Thats when he met Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-born Jewish woman who lived near his brother and his wife. Meir even appealed to the Soviet Union. He was driven to the airport, where his wife Nadia saw him off. 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 caught red-handed in the transmission. Its waters flow into the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret) and south to the Dead Sea. The text messages between Khalid and the NZSIS. After his execution, a white parchment filled with anti-Zionist writing was put on his body, and he was left hanging for six hours. (Haim Zach/GPO). The goal was to gather intelligence from high-ranking Syrian politicians and military officials. He organized several protest campaigns against the British rule. Military Stories site will provide you the latest News related to military. He continued his social life, spending a lot of time in cafes listening to political gossip. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. Show creator Gideon Raff's limited series has brought renewed attention to the life and work of Eli Cohen. Ahead of the mission, Cohen had to learn to speak Arabic in a Syrian accent rather than his native Egyptian. She understood from him that he would be working for the Ministry of Defense, but she didnt know where or in what capacity. The agent replied: "Will do, thanks K". 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.. In the name of the Syrian Arab people, The Military court has decided in its meeting which was held on Muharram 7th, 1385 - May 8th, 1965 to sentence Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen, a resident of Tel Aviv in Occupied Palestine, to death for committing the following crimes: The crime of disguised entry into a military location. But changes were taking place in the Syrian Government that alarmed Eli. 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. Cohen's astonishing undercover career lasted for four years. love of country, sacrifice and about his life and my life, my children." . Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. Cohen was arrested in January 1965 while transmitting to his handlers. A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. Nadia, understandably, has remained fixated on her loss. Because of that, perhaps he just tired of the whole charade. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen heads to Germany Tuesday as part of Israel's campaign to halt Iran's . He worked as an accountant. Still, Israeli Intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. 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.