In brief
In a dramatic turn of events, Israel's intelligence services reveal the retrieval of personal items belonging to Eli Cohen, shedding new light on the spy's impactful legacy.
For decades, Israel has tirelessly pursued the recovery of Eli Cohen’s remains, one of its most celebrated spies, executed in Syria in 1965. While the remains remain elusive, recent developments suggest progress with the acquisition of a remarkable collection of 2,500 documents and personal effects linked to Cohen. These items, disclosed by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office on Sunday, include various artifacts from Cohen's undercover years, along with crucial information about his final moments and heartfelt correspondence with family members.The Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, collaborated with an unnamed allied nation to secure this significant archive, according to official statements. However, details regarding the method of acquisition or the specific partner country remain undisclosed. During his three years operating covertly in Syria during the early 1960s, Cohen cultivated relationships with high-ranking Syrian officials, providing vital intelligence on Syria's military capabilities, alliances, and intra-leadership rivalries—a crucial contribution as Syria was Israel’s primary foe in the region.The intelligence Cohen provided was instrumental two years later during the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, assisting Israel in securing a pivotal victory and seizing the strategically significant Golan Heights from Syria. As new insights from Cohen's past emerge, they continue to shape Israel's understanding of its history with its neighboring country.
