In a remarkable intelligence coup, the Eli Cohen Archives, containing thousands of documents and personal effects belonging to Israel’s legendary spy, have reportedly been seized and brought to Israel from Syria. This extraordinary recovery, decades in the making, offers an unparalleled glimpse into the life and operations of one of Mossad’s most celebrated agents, 60 years after his execution.
The recovered Eli Cohen Archives include handwritten letters to his family, surveillance files compiled by Syrian intelligence, photographs from his time undercover, and even his original will. This wealth of material provides crucial historical context and deepens understanding of Cohen’s audacious infiltration into the highest echelons of Syrian political and military leadership in the early 1960s.
Eli Cohen’s espionage work was instrumental in providing Israel with critical intelligence that significantly aided its preparedness for the 1967 Six-Day War. His ability to cultivate close contacts and gain trust within the enemy’s inner circles was extraordinary, making him a figure of immense importance in Israeli history.
The retrieval of the Eli Cohen Archives is not merely an act of historical recovery but also a symbolic victory for Israel. It underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to its agents, living or deceased, and its relentless pursuit of information concerning those who served the state with the utmost dedication.
For Cohen’s widow, Nadia, and his family, the return of these personal items, including a will written hours before his execution, brings a poignant form of closure. It offers tangible links to a man whose sacrifice has been deeply revered but whose final moments and possessions remained largely out of reach until now.
The operation to recover the archives was reportedly a covert and complex Mossad mission, executed with the cooperation of an allied foreign intelligence service. This highlights the sophisticated and persistent efforts undertaken by Israeli intelligence to uncover the fate of its heroes and retrieve vital historical records.