Israel Recovers Thousands of Items from Eli Cohen's Syrian Archive After 60 Years

Israel has successfully retrieved a significant collection of items belonging to its renowned spy, Eli Cohen, following a covert mission in Syria. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented some of the 2,500 items from the Syrian archive to Cohen's widow. This event coincided with the 60th anniversary of Cohen's execution in Damascus.

The retrieved items include documents, recordings, and photographs related to Cohen's espionage activities in Syria. Among these are personal letters he wrote to his family in Israel and various objects taken from his home after his capture in January 1965. These items were previously held by Syrian intelligence.

Spy Mission Success and Legacy

Cohen's espionage work is considered one of the Mossad's early major successes. The intelligence he gathered was instrumental in Israel's preparation for the 1967 Middle East War. His ability to infiltrate Syria's political and military circles led him to become a key adviser to Syria's defense minister.

In 1965, Cohen was caught transmitting information back to Israel. He was subsequently tried and executed on May 18, 1965, in Damascus. Despite his execution, Cohen remains a national hero in Israel, although his remains have not been returned.

Items Retrieved and Their Significance

The items brought back to Israel include handwritten notes, keys to his Damascus apartment, passports, and false identification documents. There are also records of missions assigned by Mossad and documentation of efforts by his widow, Nadia Cohen, to secure his release.

Prime Minister Netanyahu highlighted the significance of these items during a meeting with Nadia Cohen in Jerusalem. "We conducted a special operation by the Mossad, by the State of Israel, to bring his Eli Cohens archive, which had been in the safes of the Syrian intelligence for 60 years," Netanyahu stated.

Ongoing Efforts and Historical Context

Nadia Cohen expressed that recovering her husband's body remains a priority. Netanyahu assured her that efforts continue to locate Eli Cohen's remains. Recently, Israel recovered the body of an Israeli soldier missing since a 1982 clash with Syrian forces in Lebanon.

Eli Cohen's story gained renewed attention in 2019 when actor Sasha Baron Cohen portrayed him in a Netflix series titled "The Spy." Despite no relation between them, this portrayal brought Eli Cohen's legendary status back into public focus.

"Eli is an Israeli legend. He's the greatest agent Israeli intelligence has had in the years the state existed. There was no one like him," Netanyahu remarked, underscoring Cohen's enduring legacy within Israeli history.

With inputs from PTI