The Mossad company has recovered a wristwatch belonging to legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen who executed in Syria, and introduced it again to Israel after a current particular operation, the Prime Minister’s Office introduced Thursday.
Cohen infiltrated the highest ranges of Syria’s political management within the years earlier than the 1967 Six Day War, and knowledge he obtained is credited with taking part in a key position in Israel’s gorgeous success in that battle.
Mossad chief Yossi Cohen offered the watch to Eli Cohen’s household a few weeks in the past at a ceremony marking the anniversary of his demise. It will probably be displayed on the Mossad headquarters for the subsequent few weeks “in memory of the legendary warrior,” and on Rosh Hashana it is going to be returned to the household, the assertion mentioned.
Cohen was executed by Syria in 1965, and his watch was held “by an enemy state” ever since, the PMO mentioned, with out giving particulars.
This July 5, 2018, photograph exhibits the wristwatch that when belonged to Israeli spy Eli Cohen. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
Once the watch was introduced again to Israel, particular analysis and intelligence operations decided unequivocally that it was the watch that had belonged to the spy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the intelligence service for the operation.
“I commend the fighters of the Mossad for the determined and courageous operation, the sole objective of which was to return to Israel a memento from a great fighter who greatly contributed to the security of the state,” he mentioned.
Nadia Cohen, Eli Cohen’s widow, instructed Channel 10 information that it was very emotional for her to have the watch again.
President Reuven Rivlin and Nadia Cohen, at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the demise of Mossad tremendous spy Eli Cohen, May 18, 2015. (Haim Zach/GPO)
“The watch has been in Israel for several months. It was very emotional to be told of this. It was something that was placed on Eli’s skin,” she mentioned. “God willing, perhaps his body will also be returned to Israel.”
The Mossad head mentioned Cohen won't ever be forgotten.
“His heritage, of dedication, determination, courage, and love of the homeland is our heritage. We remember and have maintained a close connection over the years with his family, Nadia and the children,” the Mossad chief mentioned.
“This was Eli Cohen’s watch that he wore in Syria until the day he was caught,” he additionally mentioned. “The watch was part of Eli Cohen’s operational image and part of his fabricated Arab identity.”
Mossad agent Cohen was placed on trial and executed by the Syrian authorities for espionage on May 18, 1965, after he efficiently infiltrated the Syrian authorities beneath the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet for 4 years. The intelligence conveyed to Israel throughout that interval was credited by then-prime minister Levi Eshkol as tremendously helping Israel through the Six Day War.
Over the years, Nadia Cohen unsuccessfully made a number of appeals to the Syrian authorities to launch her late husband’s stays. In 2008, a former bureau chief of late Syrian chief Hafez Assad claimed that nobody knew the place Cohen was buried.
“The grave was moved after a day or two,” Monjer Motsley mentioned in an interview. “We have been scared that Israel would ship forces to take away the physique.
“It is difficult to find Cohen’s bones,” he additionally mentioned. “Assad promised to return Cohen’s bones, but when he asked about it security officials told him: ‘Sir, we don’t know where the grave is,’ so he couldn’t promise.”
In March, Nadia Cohen instructed Israel Radio that the late Mossad chief Meir Dagan had sought the help of the United States as late as 2011, after the Syrian civil battle broke out, to assist deliver his stays to Israel for burial.