20 Facts About Isaac Shoshan

Isaac Shoshan was an Israeli intelligence officer, spy and "Mista'arev".

Isaac Shoshan was born as Isaac Shasho, nicknamed "Zaki", in Aleppo, Syria to poor Jewish parents, Yaqoub Shasho and his wife Mazal.

Isaac Shoshan studied at the Alliance Jewish school, and after school hours used to assist his father at his work as a school janitor.

Isaac Shoshan made his way to Tel Aviv where he settled in the Yemenite quarter of Kerem HaTeimanim and made a modest living working occasionally in the adjacent Carmel Market, in nearby agricultural farms and in a tin factory.

Isaac Shoshan then moved to Jerusalem, staying with his elder sister Rachel who emigrated several years earlier, and worked there as assistant to his brother in-law carrying and selling fruits and vegetables throughout the streets of the city.

In 1943 Shoshan enlisted to a Hakhshara camp in Kibbutz Na'an, and in 1945 joined the Hakhshara camp of Kibbutz Gvat.

Isaac Shoshan was based in Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh, where he underwent extensive training in intelligence gathering, undercover communications and explosives.

On 19 February 1948, Isaac Shoshan was involved in the assassination attempt of Haj Nimr al-Khatib, a prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and devout supporter of the Grand Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini.

Isaac Shoshan lived and operated in Beirut under the cover name Abdul Karim Muhammad Sidki.

Isaac Shoshan managed to locate the vessel and report its location to headquarters, and then, together with a frogman sent from Israel, carried out an operation to sabotage the vessels by attaching explosives to it.

In 1950, Isaac Shoshan was called back to headquarters and for the following years held various posts in the Military Intelligence Directorate.

Isaac Shoshan was highly involved in the training and handling of agents in Arab countries, including, amongst others, the Israeli spy in Damascus Eli Cohen, who was eventually captured by the Syrians and executed.

In 1966 Isaac Shoshan was transferred to the Mossad, where he held a series of operational and administrative duties.

Isaac Shoshan was involved in numerous operations, most of which are still classified.

In 1969 he initiated "Operation Melet", nicknamed "operation Isaac Shoshan", intended to rescue youngsters of the Syrian Jewish community, who under Syrian law were strictly forbidden from leaving the country, and safely bring them to Israel.

Isaac Shoshan officially retired from the Mossad in 1982, however for many years he continued his affiliation with the Organization and volunteered to advise, instruct and lecture to trainees and cadets.

Isaac Shoshan lived modestly and out of the public eye in Bat Yam in the southern outskirts of Tel Aviv, and died in 2020 at the age of 96.

Isaac Shoshan had multiple siblings: an older half-sister from his mother's first marriage, another older half-sister from his father's first marriage, 3 full brothers and a sister.

That relationship came to an end when the woman's brother found out she was dating a "Muslim", as Isaac Shoshan was thought to be under his assumed identity.

Yaffa died in 1970, and in 1973 Isaac Shoshan married Rachel, with whom he lived for the rest of his life.