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. . The memorial consists of a 19,000-square-meter site . We dont know where, in what place, in what country. Eli Cohen became certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. This is the secret of Eliahu Cohen, Israel's most famous spy. 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. He had been repeatedly interrogated and tortured. Eli Cohen and his family later moved to Israel. In January 1965, Syrian efforts to find a high-level mole were stepped up. Read Next: On This Date in 1962, Nazi War Criminal Adolf Eichmann Hanged in Israel. Who was Eli Cohen? 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Cohens widow Nadia spoke about the recovery of his watch, a few months ago, the Mossad shared with us that they had tracked down the watch, which was on sale. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen itinerary in Berlin included a visit on Tuesday to the Holocaust Memorial on Cora-Berliner-Strae. # for Twitter hashtag - Twstalker . 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. Facebook gives people the power to share. You have the full liberty to do so. After four years of working undercover, he was caught as he was transmitting a message to Israel and was arrested in January 1965. Cohen was then informed that the Mossad had decided to recruit him, and underwent an intensive, six-month course at the Mossad training school. The work he received, in The Central Mashbir, gave him financial security, but he felt that another vocation awaited him. He was a legend, I declare. 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. He was sent to Argentina, where he took on the guise of a businessman, scion of a Syrian family. The coups leader, Amin al-Hafez, continued to favour Cohen, and he reportedly considered appointing him deputy minister of defense. Like Eli, I was a member of Israeli Intelligence, a Mossad agent, now retired. I decided the watch would remain in the Mossad. Cohen received classified military briefings and was taken on tours of the Syrian fortifications in the Golan Heights. That proved to be his downfall. Look after them thoroughly, bring them up and give them a complete education, dont deprive them or yourself of anything. Eli was gone. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. 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. Cohen was offended when Mossad rejected him, and resigned from military counterintelligence. Rochelita Ermoza . Irit can also be referred to using alternative name, like Irit A Bershadsky, Irit Bershadsky, Irit Cohen, Irit Brshadsky. He wrote in encrypted French and used a tiny radio transmitter. He was forty-one when he fell. Could the government cancel elections? All Rights Reserved. Memorial stone reading Eliahu (Eli) Cohen, in the "Garden of the Missing Soldiers" on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. 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'. View Iris F Cohen results in Texas (TX) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. In November 1965, Cohen's wife, Nadia sent a letter to Hafez al-Assad and asked his forgiveness for Eli's actions, hoping to receive remains of her husband. ", On May 18, 1965, Cohen was publicly hanged in Al-Marjah Square in Damascus. Will Bibis legacy be a new constitution for Israel or civil war? As a young adult, he worked within Egypt to secretly assist other Egyptian Jews in emigrating to. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. The settlement Eliad in the Golan Heights is named after him. One day he was sitting in Saif's office reading a classified document while the Syrian was on the phone. [3] Incorrect password. Eli was born in Alexandria, Egypt. Maurice died in 2006. Although Eli never lived in this home, his presence can be felt. He assured his wife that there would only be one more trip before he returned permanently. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. In the years following the creation of Israel, many Jewish families left Egypt. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. His most famous achievement was when he toured the Golan Heights, and collected intelligence on the Syrian fortifications there. She smiles. Because of his friendship with the activists in one of the cells, they asked him to rent a room for them in the city. Rochel; The Holocaust Memorial commemorates the approximately six million Jews who were . Now they claim that they dont even know where it is buried. 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. Therefore, in 1960 left this position. 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. 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. As an activist in the party, one of the loyalists of President Amin al-Hafez, senior military officers shared sensitive and vital information and invited him to patrol the bases in order to advance their careers. [6][16][17] Concentrate on yourself, looking forward for a better future! For now, the watch is all they have and will have to suffice. [14], After establishing good relations with Syrian elite, Cohen embarked on the next stage - building strong confidence with many Syrian military and government officials. 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. On 15 May 1965, Cohen wrote in his final letter:[3], "I am begging you my dear Nadia not to spend your time in weeping about some thing already passed. It remains our obligation to bring Eli home, to bury him in Israel, Pardo said at the event. The film, called The Impossible Spy, was broadcast on the Al Arabiya network throughout the Middle East. 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. I want the inside story of a legendary tale and Im confident that Im about to hear it. He wanted to come all his life. Please try again or choose an option below. ? Foi vrias vezes interrogado e torturado. To establish his cover, Cohen moved to Argentina in 1961. Sometimes they trusted him so much that they gave him details of embarrassing military mistakes that even the Syrian president himself had not heard of. She smiles again; this time, though, her smile doesnt display the same amount of joy as her smile when I mentioned the grandchildren. He travelled to Israel for a brief espionage training course in 1955 and returned to Egypt the following year. And I believed and still did not understand. Irit currently resides at 2125 East 68 Strt, NY 11234-6011. Included in this was that the Syrians had constructed three lines of defense where the Israelis believed there was only one. liverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death So now we have a request. 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. The Israeli government is still trying to get his body returned and even had the Russian government intercede on their behalf. His short trip to Buenos Aires lasted eight months. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. 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. Itzik Cohen. She emerges moments later, holding a tray with glasses of water. Mossad Director Yossi Cohen said, We remember Eli Cohen and do not forget. On January 24, 1965, Syria officially announced the exposure of spy Eli Cohen. [4][6], He was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina. Concentrate on yourself, looking forward for a better future! 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. 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. Eli Cohen (hebrisch ; * 3. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924, the second of eight children in a family of orthodox Jews. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Eli informed Nadia that as part of his work he must bring spare parts for Israeli weapons. Moscow Should Prepare For Probable US Nuclear Aggression: Reports Russian Military Journal, Destroying American Monster Abrams: Pro-Russian Group Release A How-To Video, Dr. Mary E. Walker: The First AND Only Female Medal Of Honor Recipient, Bakhmut on the Brink of Falling to Russian Troops, Decorated Navy SEAL Died in HALO Training Accident, Belarus Steps up Their Proxy War as They Befriend China, Taiwan-China SITREP: Day 2 of Chinese Incursion on Taiwanese Air Zone, A Trickle of Tanks: Europe is Slow to Deliver on Its Promise, A Look at the Unconventional Tactics Used by Western Militaries Throughout History, Adam Brown: A SEALs Life of Courage and Redemption, Complete List: Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers To Retire By 2027, Nuclear Close Calls That Nearly Caused World War III, Russian Sausage Millionaire and Putin Critic Falls to His Death in India, Deadly Russian Rifle Brigade Wiped Out During War in Ukraine, Your Subscription Supports our Veteran Staff. Major Eli Cohen fell in combat and was raised to the gallows in Damascus on May 18, 1965. Eliyahu (Eli) Cohen, an Egyptian Jew, was born in Alexandria in 1924. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. View the profiles of people named Irit Cohen. At a ceremony at Mossad headquarters, Director Yossi Cohen presented the watch to Cohens family. 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. tortor at risus erra adipiscing at in. Er war als Vizeprsident fr das Unternehmen Israel Land Development Company ttig. 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. "[11] Beyond that, he had no involvement in their activities. And my dear Nadia, you are entitled to marry another man to be the father of our children, and on this subject you are completely free, I ask you not to grieve for what happened, but to look at the future, I send you last kisses. 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. 'How is it that you dare allow a stranger to read a classified document?' 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. Levi Eshkol, then Israeli Prime Minister, said that Eli Cohens actions saved the lives of many divisions of soldiers, and the information he provided led to the great victory in the war. Mossad Director Yossi Cohen said, We remember Eli Cohen and do not forget. ,- , , Those included the Syrian military attach, Amin al-Hafez, who would later serve as president of Syria. Omissions? The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) made note of where the trees were and their artillery pinpointed them in the 1967 war. He became a confidant of George Saif, high up in the Ministry of Information. 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. As a result, the means of locating the Soviet media experts operating in Syria managed to locate the signal that emanated from the transmitter in his apartment. In January 1965 Syrian counterintelligence identified his radio signal and apprehended him in the act of sending a transmission. He wanted to accomplish big things for his country. How did he get involved with the Mossad? I ask. Noble Savage Pere Atzil. Yes it could. CAIRO - 18 May 2022: Four years after spying for Israel, Eli Cohen was caught by the Syrian intelligence services in one of the most famous espionage cases in the modern history of Syria. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. 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. Eli was sent to engage in secret missions. His advice to the Syrians to plant eucalyptus trees for camouflage purposes around their fortifications at the level helped our forces locate them accurately. A two-minute video posted on Syrian opposition. I walk under an archway and up the stairs leading to a white stucco home whose door is opened by Mrs. Nadia Cohen, the elderly widow of Eli Cohen. "Just a year ago, the distance between Ben-Gurion Airport and Khartoum was endless . Eli Cohens daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. diam, was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. . The judge accused him of treason, for the entire Syrian leadership regarded him as an Arab. he angrily asked Saif. Can you share your story with me? I request. Eli Cohen, in full Eliahu ben Shaoul Cohen, also called Kamal Amin Thaabet, (born 1924, Alexandria, Egyptdied May 18, 1965, Damascus, Syria), Egyptian-born Israeli spy who infiltrated the highest ranks of the Syrian military and government by posing as a Syrian businessman. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Once registered, youll receive our Daily Edition email for free. [9][10], The tactics of Cohen to build relations with Syrian high-ranked politicians, military officials, influential public figures and local foreign diplomacy community, have been carefully masterminded by Mossad. Eli Cohen, also called Kamal Amin Thaabet, Egyptian-born Israeli spy who infiltrated the highest ranks of the Syrian military and government by posing as a Syrian businessman. Feigning sympathy for the soldiers exposed to the sun, Cohen had trees planted at every position. Egyptian authorities uncovered the spy ring and after a trial, two of the group's members received the death penalty. What happens to the notes placed in the Kotel? Summers with Chaim Dovid: The memories of that summer are different Just Ask: A summer gets off to a good start. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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." 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..