Mossad Recovers Eli Cohen’s Archive Sixty Years After Execution

Jerusalem, Israel – In a remarkable operation, the Mossad recovered approximately 2,500 documents and personal items belonging to famed Israeli spy Eli Cohen, who was executed in Syria in 1965. The announcement, made on Sunday, coincides with the 60th anniversary of his death, which took place in Damascus’s Al-Marjeh Square.

The items include Cohen’s original handwritten will, forged passports, keys to his apartment, and numerous photographs of him during his espionage missions. This collection was retrieved from a Syrian archive, where it has been kept for decades, and was presented to Cohen’s widow, Nadia Cohen, during a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea.

Netanyahu praised Cohen, stating, “Eli Cohen is a legend. In the test of time, he is revealed as the greatest intelligence agent in the history of the state.” He emphasized that the archive would serve as an educational resource for future generations, honoring Cohen’s contributions to Israel’s historic victory in the Six-Day War.

Barnea described the operation, lasting several months, as a significant achievement with ethical and moral value. He reiterated the ongoing commitment to locate Cohen’s burial site in Syria and return all missing Israelis. “We will continue to work to locate and return all the missing, the fallen, and the kidnapped,” he said.

The recovery of these historic materials reflects decades of efforts by the Mossad to uncover details surrounding Cohen’s fate, including communications from his intelligence work in Syria. The archive also contains intelligence files and documentation from Cohan’s investigations, along with correspondence to his family in Israel.

Among the remarkable findings is an official sentencing document that allowed the chief rabbi of the Damascus Jewish community to accompany Cohen before his execution, adhering to Jewish customs. Additionally, a folder labeled “Nadia Cohen” revealed the extent of Syrian intelligence’s surveillance of Cohen’s widow as she campaigned for his release.

The profound implications of this operation not only preserve the legacy of Eli Cohen but also reflect Israel’s continued dedication to addressing the fates of its fallen and absent soldiers.