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Top 10 Facts about Eli Cohen

Eli Cohen was an Egyptian-born Israel spy, his real name was Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen. He is famously known for his espionage work from 1961 to 1965 in Syria.

He established a close relationship with the Syrian political and military hierarchy and became the chief advisor to the minister of defense.

His luck run out when he was uncovered by the Syrian counter-intelligence authority, he was tried and convicted as a criminal under the pre-war martial law to the death penalty in 1965.

Despite his tragic demise, the intelligence he gathered he gathered as a spy is believed to have been an important factor in Israel’s success in the six-day war. Here are the top 10 Facts about Eli Cohen.

1. He enlisted to join the Egyptian army but was rejected

In January 1947, he chose to enlist in the Egyptian army but was dismissed on grounds of ineligible loyalty.

 He left university and started studying at home after he was subjected to harassment from the Muslim brotherhood. Many Jewish families left Egypt for Israel after its creation.

Cohen’s brothers and parents left for Israel in 1949, but he decided to remain to finish a degree in electronics as well as to continue and coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities.

Cohen was arrested and questioned over his anti-Zionist activities after the military coup of 1951 in Egypt. He participated in many Israel covert operations in the country during the 1950s, though no tangible evidence was ever found against him.

In December 1956, he was forced to leave Egypt and with the assistance of the Jewish Agency, he emigrated to Israel.

2. He was recruited by the director-genera after his failed first attempt

In 1957, he was recruited by the Israel defense force, where he worked as a counter-intelligence analyst, but he soon grew bored of the position and resigned after his rejection by the Mossad. He worked as a filing clerk for an insurance office for the next two years.

Cohen was later recruited by the Mossad after the director-general Meir Amit, looking for a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government, came across his name as a potential candidate.

He was kept under surveillance for two weeks and was deemed suitable for recruitment training. He underwent an intensive six months course at the Mossad training school. He was highlighted as a candidate with good qualities for a field agent in his report.

He was issued a false identity as a Syrian businessman returning to the country from Argentina.

3. He was a skillful mastermind tactician

PikiWiki_Israel_46514_In_the_footsteps_of_Eli Cohen photo by Harvey Sapir —

Eli Cohen moved to Damascus in February 1960 under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabat. He cultivated a good relationship with key figures in politics and the military.

He held parties as well as attended social gatherings as camouflaged to gather intelligent information. He will let his guest indulge in alcohol and get intoxicated, and the ministers and other political figures will discuss vital plans unaware of the spy among them.

Cohen would also pretend to get intoxicated and collect important data as he eavesdropped on political gossip as well as other key information, he left nothing to chance and speculation.

It said that Eli Cohen had at least 17 lovers in Syria with a degree of family power and beauty.

4. He was uncovered cleverly by the Syrian intelligence

In January 1965, Syrian efforts to find the vicious mole was stepped up. They used soviet made tracking equipment and were aided by hired soviet experts.

A period of radio silence was observed and the Syrian intelligence had faith that any illegal transmission could be identified.

After a lot of effort, a large amount of radio interference was picked and a journey to trace the source was made. Syrian officials broke into his apartment on  January 24 making transmission to Israel.

5. Eli Cohen had plans for retirement

Cohen expressed his fears when the newly appointed Syrian intelligence known as Colonel Ahmed Suidani expressed distrust and showed his distaste for the spy.

Cohen was willing to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last secret visit to Israel, but the intelligence insisted he returns one more time.

Before leaving he assured his wife that would be the last trip he makes and wrapped his spy career up before he could retire permanently.

6 . He has collected an incredible amount of intelligence for the Israel army

For four years, Cohen provided a great amount of intelligence data that has aided the Israel army the upper hand in winning against their foe. He sent the information to the army by secret letters, radio, and occasionally in person.

His most famous achievement was the incident of the Golan Heights where he collected vital intelligence on the Syrian fortification.

According to a widely believed story, he feigned sympathy for the soldiers exposed to the sun and had trees planted at every position, which was meant to provide shade. The Israel defense army used this as a marker to identify the position of the enemy’s army.

7. He was convicted and sentenced to death

Damascus_Al_Merjeh_or_Martyrs_Square_0360 photo by Dosseman —

 Cohen was found guilty of spying by a military trial and was sentenced to death under martial law, he was severally interrogated and tortured.

Israel staged an international campaign for clemency, but the Syrians remained strong in their convictions.

Despite the pleas of diplomats and persuasion from the international community, Syrians remained adamant about putting the spy to death, even the wife of Cohen made an appeal for clemency at the Syrian embassy in Â鶹APP but she was turned away.

On 18 May 1965, Cohen was hanged in the Marjeh square in Damascus.

8. There was no known burial site for the fallen spy

Medical_Regiment_memorial_in_Golan_Heights photo by Avi1111 Dr. Avishai teacher —

After his death, the Syrian government didn’t hand the body to the family nor did they return the fallen hero to his homeland.

It’s believed that the Syrians buried the executed spy three times, to stop the remains from being brought back to Israel via a special operation. His burial site remains unknown and there is a campaign led by his wife to return his remains home.

9 . He has left a great legacy behind

Cohen has become a national hero in Israel and many neighborhoods and streets have been named after him as an honor.

A memorial stone has been erected in the garden of the missing soldiers in mount Heiz, Jerusalem.

10. His last letter was addressed to his wife

Eli Cohen’s final letter was for his wife Nadia written on the 15^th of may 1965, requesting his wife to forget things that have passed and to live happily for herself.