28 Facts About Eli Cohen

Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy.

Eli Cohen is best known for his espionage work in Syria between 1961 and 1965, where he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military hierarchy.

Eli Cohen is highly regarded in Israel, with several streets and roads being named after him.

Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, to a family of Mizrahi Jews.

Eli Cohen's father had immigrated from Aleppo in the Ottoman Empire in 1914.

Deeply committed to Judaism, Eli Cohen had planned in his youth to become a rabbi with guidance from Moise Ventura, Alexandria's Chief Rabbi, but the city's yeshiva soon closed down, prompting him to pursue higher education at Cairo University.

Eli Cohen was fluent in five languages: Arabic, Hebrew, English, French, and Spanish.

Eli Cohen is said to have aided Egyptian Jews who were taking part in what would become known as the Lavon Affair, by which Israel sought to sabotage Egypt's relationship with the Western world.

For two weeks Eli Cohen was put under surveillance and was judged suitable for recruitment and training.

Eli Cohen was then informed that Mossad had decided to recruit him and underwent an intensive six-month course at the Mossad training school.

Eli Cohen was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina.

Eli Cohen moved to Damascus in February 1962 under the alias Kamel Amin Thabet and lived in Al Mahdi Ibn Barakeh Street of the Abu Rummaneh neighbourhood, an area which contained various embassies and government buildings, including the Air Force Intelligence Directorate.

Eli Cohen continued his social life as he had in Argentina, spending time in cafes listening to political gossip.

Eli Cohen held parties at his home for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others.

At these parties, Eli Cohen "dispensed free-flowing liquor and prostitutes" and highly-placed officials would openly discuss their work and army plans.

Eli Cohen would pretend to be drunk to encourage such conversations, to which he paid close attention.

Eli Cohen would lend money to government officials, and many came to him for advice.

Eli Cohen sent intelligence to Israel by radio, secret letters, and occasionally in person; he secretly travelled to Israel three times.

Eli Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions.

Eli Cohen 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.

Eli Cohen expressed fear of discovery to the Mossad on his last secret visit to Israel in November 1964, and he stated that he wished to terminate his assignment in Syria.

Eli Cohen was found guilty of espionage by a military tribunal and sentenced to death under martial law.

Nadia Eli Cohen attempted to appeal for clemency at the Syrian Embassy in Paris but was turned away.

Eli Cohen was publicly hanged in the Marjeh Square in Damascus on 18 May 1965.

Eli Cohen was allowed to write a final letter to his wife.

Eli Cohen's widow mentioned that the watch was up for sale months earlier, and Mossad managed to capture it.

Mossad director Yossi Eli Cohen presented it to Eli Cohen's family in a ceremony, and it is currently on display at Mossad headquarters.

Eli Cohen has become a national hero in Israel, and many streets and neighbourhoods have been named for him.