Israel’s Mossad agency recovered thousands of documents and personal items belonging to legendary spy Eli Cohen, who was executed in 1965. The recovery includes his handwritten will, letters to family, and intelligence files. The announcement coincides with the 60th anniversary of his execution and emphasizes Israel’s commitment to missing individuals.
In a significant development, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency has successfully retrieved thousands of personal items and documents related to Eli Cohen, a renowned Israeli spy, who was executed in Syria over 60 years ago. The announcement was made on Sunday, commemorating the six decades since Cohen’s public hanging in Damascus on May 18, 1965. The recovery of these items reportedly took place in a complex and covert operation, conducted alongside a strategic partner intelligence agency.
Among the trove of documents recovered is Cohen’s original handwritten will, astonishingly penned just hours before his execution. Personal letters addressed to his family in Israel were also part of the stash, alongside other items like forged documents, keys to his apartment in Damascus, and photographs showing Cohen with senior Syrian military and government officials during the 1960s.
This collection was formally presented to Cohen’s widow, Nadia Cohen, during a ceremony also attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea. Additionally, the archive contains vital Syrian intelligence files that were assembled following Cohen’s arrest in January 1965. These files include investigative records, surveillance notes, and remnants of notebooks found in his apartment.
Further, some documents outline Mossad’s mission directives, detailing tasks like tracking specific targets and gathering intelligence on Syrian military installations situated in the Golan Heights. Notably, one document retrieved was the court ruling that sentenced Cohen to death, which permitted the chief rabbi of the Damascus Jewish community to accompany him in his final moments as per Jewish custom.
Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed Cohen as “a legend,” underscoring the instrumental role Cohen’s activities played in shaping the events of the 1967 Six-Day War. He asserted, “The Eli Cohen archive, brought here through a special effort, will educate generations and reflects our unceasing commitment to returning all of our missing, captives, and hostages.”
Mossad Director Barnea characterized the successful recovery as a “significant achievement with deep moral and historical value.” He also noted that efforts to locate Cohen’s burial site in Syria are still ongoing. “We will continue working to bring home all of Israel’s missing and abducted—those who live, for rehabilitation, and those who fell, for burial in Israel,” he affirmed.
The recovery of Eli Cohen’s personal belongings marks a historical moment for Israel, rekindling memories of his pivotal role in intelligence operations. The operation’s success underscores Mossad’s enduring commitment to not only honor his legacy but also to continue searching for remains and information regarding all of Israel’s missing and fallen. As Israel reflects on its past, the retrieved artifacts promise to educate future generations about Cohen’s heroic contributions to national security.
Original Source: www.ynetnews.com
