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. Yedith Ahronoth report. In 1951, her family became among the first Iraqi Jews to make the Aliyah, the immigration of Jews from the Diaspora to the Land of Israel. After we had spent a few minutes with the children, the little girl . Learn more. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen. 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. Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Noah Emmerich, Hadar Ratzon Rotem Creators: Gideon Raff Watch all you want. 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. Her father was an affluent merchant. Israeli Hebrew Author Sami Michael Is Her Brother. Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. Cohen would then send intelligence back to Israel using a hidden radio transmitter. they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant. Eliyahu BenShaul Cohen (Hebrew , Arabic 26 December 1924 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Israeli spy. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a news conference in Berlin with Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen that "we abroad are concerned about some Israeli legislative plans." . 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. Scheffeldt, 63, is the widow of Rifa'at al-Gamal, an Egyptian spy who reportedly operated in Israel for a number of years. [7] Cohen is married, has four children and lives in Holon. "The Spy" depicts Egyptian-born Cohen - played by Sacha Baron Cohen - as an ambitious, Arabic-speaking immigrant to Israel who is recruited by Mossad and, overcoming his fears and the strains on his family, infiltrates the Damascus high command by posing as a rich scion of the Syrian diaspora. When he first met Nadia in 1959, she was in her early twenties and he was eleven years older than her. They were married in a synagogue within a month and she soon became pregnant with their first child, daughter Sophie. At this time the Ba'ath Party was illegal in Syria but the party seized power in 1963. [12], He was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5peXQKFMyNk. Syrian counterintelligence eventually uncovered the spy conspiracy and convicted Cohen under pre-war martial law, sentencing him to death and hanging him publicly in 1965. Call Eli Cohen Agency Inc. at (718) 336-1700 or visit us at 2003 Coney Island Ave. We will be happy to work with you to make sure your family's financial security is always protected. Parents passed out sweets among their children, while lively music played. I understand and respect [it], she said in a separate interview earlier Sunday with the network. Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. According to Scheffeldt, al-Gamal wrote in his memoirs of his friendship with Marcelle Ninio, who was sentenced to four years in prison for her role in the Jewish Underground, and also about Eli Cohen. Published: MAY 8, 2020 01:14. eli cohen vb. - From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. Incorrect password. Eli Cohen was born into a family of eight in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt on December 6, 1924. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. when you were three, your family left Lebanon and moved to Egypt Alexandria. On the day of his execution, his last wish to see a rabbi was respected by the prison authorities, and Nissim Indibo, the elderly Chief Rabbi of Syria, accompanied him in the truck. Everybody has secrets, but Eli Cohen, the Israeli spy hanged in Damascus in May 1965, had more secrets than most . Screenshot from footage showing Israeli spy Eli Cohen placed in a coffin after his execution by hanging in Damascus, Syria on May 18, 1965. Another tutor trained him to speak Arabic. But an interview published in the Cairo Times yesterday with the German-born Weltrude Scheffeldt-Biton suggests that Egyptian intelligence played the most important role in unmasking Cohen. This article was originally published in May 2005 and republished to coincide with the release of "The Spy" - a Netflix series about Eli Cohen's life. National Day of Hate: How should we respond? Cohen established his contact quickly, his letter of recommendation opened the gates to high society. "Sophie's. Syria has not even disclosed the location of Eli's grave. Whether you have a new baby on the way, or you brought your baby home several months ago, now is the time to plan for life's eventualities. Haaretz.com, the online English edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, gives you breaking news, analyses and opinions about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World. 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. Cohen was born and raised in Egypt and was expelled to Israel in 1956. After several days, Eli got a new identity as. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. . Eli Cohen was now a member of the inner circle of power. Label. Nadia, who is fighting to return her husbands remains to Israel, said I would kiss and hug all of this production if thats what would bring Eli to me. Incidentally, the Mossad was recently able to retrieve her husbands watch and return it to her. He returned home to his family only a few times during his mission. 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. Please try again or choose an option below. he supplies Eli with inside information about the political and military situation. A supporter of the Aliyah, Eli had previously assisted the Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel, when he was in Egypt. 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. Nadia Cohens eldest sibling, Kamal Shalah, born on August 15, 1926, went on to become a renowned Israeli Hebrew author popularly known as Sami Michael. They would have three children, Sophie, Irit and Shai. After she finally saw the film, it was a bittersweet experience for her. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. He temporarily moved to Iran, but when the Iraqi court sentenced him to death during his absence, he moved to Israel. Meet Woody Allens Daughter, Dylan OSullivan Farrow, Debbie Trejo Facts about Danny Trejos Ex-Wife, Violet Affleck All About Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garners Daughter. The national turmoil over the PMs judicial overhaul is now being exacerbated by surging Palestinian terrorism and settler extremism. Cohen will serve as Israel's new foreign affairs minister in rotation with Israel Katz, who was appointed minister of energy. Every morning, Eli would leave home and head for the Aman training center. Receiving his primary education at a local Jewish community school, Eli nevertheless considered himself a patriot of Egypt, the country in which he was born. He had a boring job as an accountant at a departmental store, but was very talented and had a modest personality. But even after four decades, there are still many questions related to the Eli Cohen affair, some minor, others major - among them, the way in which Syrian counterintelligence identified the Israeli spy. [16][17] Mossad had carefully planned the tactics that he was to use in building relationships with high-ranking Syrian politicians, military officials, influential public figures, and the diplomatic community. He was husband to Carole Cohen; brother to Narda Gabbay; father to Margalit Tocher, Roslyn V [24], Following the 1963 Syrian coup d'tat, newly appointed Syrian Intelligence Colonel Ahmed Suidani disliked Cohen and did not trust figures close to the Second Syrian Republic. He escaped punishment due to lack of evidence. In the 1960s, Israeli clerk-turned-secret agent Eli Cohen goes deep undercover inside Syria on a perilous, years-long mission to spy for Mossad. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Although his parents and brothers left for Israel in 1949, he remained in Egypt until 1956 and may have been involved with Israel's unsuccessful Operation . Eli Cohen and his family later moved to Israel. In 1960, he was recruited to join the Mossad for a special mission in which he was to pretend to be a Syrian businessman returning to the country after having lived in Argentina. Despite this, however, Israeli intelligence asked him to return to Syria one more time. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen heads to Germany Tuesday as part of Israel's campaign to halt Iran's . But it . Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. After some months, Abdel Latif Hassan introduces Eli to General Amin El-Hafez, the military attache at the embassy. His last wish was to see a rabbi. Hence, Nissim Andabo, the elderly chief rabbi of Syria accompanied him to Marjeh Square.. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs | . Finally, Cohen's instructors decided that the time had come to craft him a cover story. Eli seemed to have completed the final stage in establishing his network. [11] Start with Mossad [ edit] She has pleaded for years and is still waiting to receive Eli's body. In the 1970s, they left Israel for Germany and in 1982, al-Gamal, alias Jacques Biton, died of an illness. In February 2007, the Turkish government offered to act as a mediator for their return. Cohen was caught and eventually executed by Syrian authorities in 1965. He set up a travel agency in Tel Aviv and developed ties with the upper echelons of Israeli society, including politicians. Cohen was offended when Mossad rejected him, and resigned from military counterintelligence. Eli's second instructor Yehuda taught him how to use a small, sophisticated radio transmitter. 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. Share on Facebook. I am begging you my dear Nadia not to spend your time in weeping about some thing already passed. He is being executed according to the two articles 158 and 159 of the military penal code, and articles 271, 272, and 274 of the general penal code. [27] Syrian authorities have repeatedly denied family requests for the remains. ! He was sentenced to death. Israel desperately tried to have his sentence commuted, and despite requests from world leaders and Pope Paul VI for clemency, Cohen was hanged publicly in May of that year. " " , . Diplomats, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and Pope Paul VI tried to intercede. Eli Cohenbecame certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. Israeli spy (1924-1965) Kamel Amin Thaabet. 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. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. The unit bombed unoccupied American and British installations, expecting that this would be considered the work of Egyptians. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. 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While Eli has been celebrated as a national hero in Israel since his death, she remained reclusive for decades. He was born in 1971 to Jewish parents. One day they took Eli to visit the Syrian positions along Israel's border. Eli's first instructor Yitzhak learned to memorize things, he throws a dozen objects on the table and Eli observe them for a second and described them. . Al-Gamal rushed to inform his superiors that Thabet was none other than Eli Cohen, the Alexandrian Jew. A legend. he goes abroad for business and meets Nadia and Sophie in Bat Yam. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. [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. 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