It is not usual for a spy to captivate the world six decades after his death. But Eli Cohen, an Egyptian-born Israeli Mossad agent, has done just that. His story reads like a spy thriller, and yet every twist, betrayal, and final tragic moment is real. In Israel, his name is spoken with reverence; in Syria, his legacy remains a painful chapter. And today, sixty years after his execution in Damascus, Cohen still shapes the politics of the Middle East.
The return of Cohen’s personal effects by Syria, in a rare gesture of diplomacy, has reignited interest in a man whose shadow looms large over Israel’s national security narrative. The items—letters, photographs, forged passports—may be small artifacts, but they carry enormous symbolic weight. They signify more than just the belongings of a fallen spy; they represent a bridge, tentative and fragile, between two bitter enemies.
Born in 1924 in Alexandria, Egypt, Eli Cohen grew up in a Jewish family that nurtured a strong Zionist ideology. In the early 1950s, as tensions between Egypt and Israel intensified, Cohen’s activities attracted the attention of Egyptian authorities. After being repeatedly interrogated, he left for Israel in 1956 during the Suez Crisis, joining thousands of Jews fleeing persecution.
Once in Israel, Cohen quickly integrated into Israeli society. He married Nadia and had three children. He also joined the Israel Defense Forces and worked in military intelligence. Yet his ambition was greater: he longed to join Mossad, Israel’s elite intelligence agency. After several rejections, fate intervened. Mossad needed someone to infiltrate the highest echelons of Syrian power. Cohen, with his Middle Eastern appearance, fluency in Arabic, and charisma, was the perfect candidate.
Following six months of intensive training, Cohen assumed the identity of Kamal Amin Thaabet, a Syrian businessman who had returned from Argentina. His mission was simple yet perilous: integrate into Syrian high society and collect intelligence for Israel.
Cohen moved to Buenos Aires in 1961, where he built his cover by mingling with the Syrian diaspora. By 1962, he had relocated to Damascus. There, he quickly ascended the social ladder, befriending politicians, army generals, and influential figures. He hosted lavish parties where alcohol flowed freely and secrets were easily spilled. These gatherings became goldmines for Israeli intelligence.
During this period, Syria underwent political turbulence, culminating in the rise of the Ba’ath Party in 1963. Cohen’s close relationships with top officials gave him unprecedented access to state secrets. He relayed critical information back to Israel via radio transmissions, sometimes several times a week.
Perhaps his most enduring contribution came during a tour of the Golan Heights, where he suggested planting eucalyptus trees to shade Syrian troops. The trees became markers used by the Israeli Air Force during the Six-Day War in 1967, facilitating the swift capture of the strategic territory. Israel retains control of the Golan Heights to this day, partly thanks to Cohen’s intelligence.
In late 1964, Syrian counterintelligence, with Soviet assistance, detected radio transmissions originating from Cohen’s apartment. In January 1965, they stormed his residence during one such broadcast. The evidence was irrefutable.
Cohen was arrested, brutally interrogated, and sentenced to death by a military tribunal. Despite a global campaign for clemency—including appeals from Pope Paul VI and the governments of France and the United States—Syria remained unmoved.
On May 18, 1965, Eli Cohen was publicly hanged in Damascus. His execution was broadcast on Syrian television, a grim spectacle meant to serve as a warning. His body was never returned to Israel, a source of enduring pain for his family and country.
Eli Cohen’s story has become the stuff of legend in Israel. Streets and schools bear his name. His widow, Nadia Cohen, has become a public figure, fighting tirelessly for the return of his remains. In 2019, Netflix released “The Spy,” a dramatized series starring Sacha Baron Cohen, introducing a global audience to Eli’s story. The show was a hit, solidifying his status as one of the most impactful spies in modern history.
His legend is not merely symbolic. According to former Mossad officials, Cohen’s intelligence drastically improved Israel’s understanding of Syrian military planning and infrastructure. The capture of the Golan Heights is regularly attributed to the data he provided.
Earlier this year, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made an unprecedented decision: he authorized the return of Cohen’s personal items to Israel. While Syrian sources claim this was a goodwill gesture aimed at reducing tensions and gaining favor with Western allies, particularly the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed it differently.
Netanyahu presented the recovered materials to Nadia Cohen in a televised event, stating that they were retrieved in a Mossad operation. The discrepancy in narratives has only added another layer of intrigue to an already extraordinary story. Nadia Cohen has since said she believes Mossad’s account.
Regardless of the truth, the symbolic impact is undeniable. For Israel, the return of Cohen’s belongings is a powerful affirmation of his legacy. For Syria, it could be a subtle shift in a decades-long cold war, signaling a new approach to diplomacy under President Sharaa.
Eli Cohen’s story is a reminder of the enormous personal cost that often accompanies intelligence work. His courage, tenacity, and ultimate sacrifice continue to serve as an inspiration for Mossad operatives and intelligence professionals worldwide.
Beyond personal heroism, his work had far-reaching consequences. The Golan Heights remain a geopolitical flashpoint. In the eyes of many Israeli military strategists, holding this territory is a direct result of Cohen’s success. His legacy is literally etched into the geography of the region.
Today, as Israel navigates a volatile Middle East, the legend of Eli Cohen serves as both a moral compass and a strategic guide. His story reminds the nation of the stakes involved in intelligence work and the price of national security. It also reflects the enduring power of individual agency in shaping history.
Whether Cohen’s archive was returned by Syrian goodwill or through a covert operation, the result is the same: sixty years after his death, Eli Cohen remains a central figure in the story of the Middle East. His life and legacy continue to influence policy, shape military strategy, and inspire generations.
In the end, Eli Cohen was not just a spy. He was a man who, through cunning, courage, and commitment, changed the course of history. His story, written in invisible ink across the pages of the region’s history books, is now being read anew—perhaps even by those who once condemned him.
