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Eli Cohen

Eli Cohen (1924 - 1965), Israeli secret agent.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt. He was an outstanding student and an Egyptian patriot, working for the Egyptian nationalist movement. He began to study electricity at Farouk University in Alexandria, but had to leave with other Jewish students following the establishment of the State of Israel. Cohen became involved in underground Zionist activities and was imprisoned by the Egyptians and then expelled from Egypt. After going to Israel in 1957 he joined the Mossad and was sent to Syria to infiltrate the higher ranks. His cover was so successful in Damascus that he was even proposed as a cabinet minister. All the time he was relaying crucial military information back to Israel. In 1965 he was apprehended by new tracking equipment which detected his illicit transmitter and a search of his room revealed a photography laboratory. Initially the Syrians thought he was an Arab but under torture he revealed his identity. He was publicly hanged in Damascus.

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Eli Cohen

Eli Cohen (1924 - 1965), Israeli secret agent.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt. He was an outstanding student and an Egyptian patriot, working for the Egyptian nationalist movement. He began to study electricity at Farouk University in Alexandria, but had to leave with other Jewish students following the establishment of the State of Israel. Cohen became involved in underground Zionist activities and was imprisoned by the Egyptians and then expelled from Egypt. After going to Israel in 1957 he joined the Mossad and was sent to Syria to infiltrate the higher ranks. His cover was so successful in Damascus that he was even proposed as a cabinet minister. All the time he was relaying crucial military information back to Israel. In 1965 he was apprehended by new tracking equipment which detected his illicit transmitter and a search of his room revealed a photography laboratory. Initially the Syrians thought he was an Arab but under torture he revealed his identity. He was publicly hanged in Damascus.

Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People