Find Scout Cohen. Russia can fulfill Israel’s half-century dream
Relations between Russia and Israel cannot be called simple, but for quite a long time, countries, in the presence of completely different interests in the Middle East, manage to negotiate and maintain mutual respect. Meanwhile, Russian-Israeli relations could have become much more trusting, had Moscow decided to take one simple step for Russia, but a very important step for Israel.
Tel Aviv is very kind to its soldiers. For the release of one captured Israeli, the government, without hesitation, releases hundreds of Palestinians from prisons. Of particular importance to the Israelis is the search for the burial places of the dead IDF soldiers and officers.
Recently, Russia handed over to Israel the remains of Zakharia Baumel, who died 37 years ago. He served as a sergeant as a tank commander; on June 11, 1982, he died in the battle of Sultan Yakub in southern Lebanon. The fact that Russian special forces in Syria found the burial of Baumel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was personally informed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In Israel, the magnanimous gesture of the Russians was appreciated. Moreover, Moscow, risking the lives of special forces, did not take a dime for this, unlike the Arab states, which sell the bodies of dead Israelis as well as prisoners. Now in Tel Aviv, they hope that Russia will help return to the "Promised Land" the body of Eli Cohen, one of the most famous Israeli intelligence officers who was executed in Damascus in 1965.
A native of Alexandria, Egyptian Jew Eli Cohen from a young age worked for the Israeli secret services. In the end, he was forced to move to Israel, where after long attempts he was recruited to serve in the AMAN - the military intelligence of the IDF. Growing up in an Arabian environment, Eli Cohen spoke excellent Arabic and, more importantly, could behave indistinguishably from a real Egyptian Arab.
Under the name Kamal Amin Taabes, Israeli intelligence sent Eli Cohen to Argentina, where he, under the guise of an Arab businessman, began to visit the meeting places of Syrian diplomats and entrepreneurs. There, Cohen met with Major Amin al-Hafez Assad, who served as the military attaché of Syria in Argentina. And pretty quickly became his close friend.
When Assad came to power in Syria, Kamal Amin Taabes came to Damascus. Since that time, he revolved in a circle of the Syrian militarypolitical elite, was "on a short foot" with the generals and colonels of the army and special services of Syria. Soon he knew about the Syrian armed forces, about their weapons, training, relations with other countries, literally everything that could be found out. And at the same time he enjoyed the unlimited trust of Hafez al-Assad, who offered Kamal Amin Taabes the post of deputy minister of defense of the country.
In the end, Cohen became so "insolent" that he regularly got in touch with the "center" directly from his elite home next door to foreign embassies. Employees of the Embassy of India, who experienced interference in transmitting radiograms to their homeland, complained to Syrian diplomats, who reported to the intelligence services. The alarmed Syrians ordered a modern direction finder in Moscow. Soon, Cohen was calculated, "taking" in the act - the transmitter.
For three months, Cohen was in prison, was subjected to terrible torture. He was personally visited by Hafez al-Assad. Meanwhile, Israel launched an unprecedented campaign to free Cohen, connecting all who can be - from the Pope to Charles de Gaulle. But Hafez al-Assad was adamant. He was very offended that the man whom he trusted so much turned out to be an Israeli spy. On May 18, 1965, Eli Cohen was hanged on Al Mardha Square in central Damascus. Then, however, Assad showed respect for the deceased - Cohen's body was buried in the Jewish cemetery of Damascus according to the Jewish rite, under the control of the chief rabbi of Syria.
But five years later, Israeli special forces tried secretly to steal the remains of a scout. After that, the Syrians moved Cohen's ashes into a 30-meter bunker, which is located on the territory of the military unit - the 70th Tank Brigade in Damascus.
54 years have passed since the execution of Eli Cohen. The world political situation, as well as the situation in the Middle East, have changed significantly. And now Russia, having pressed on Bashar al-Assad, can achieve from Syria the transfer of the ashes of the famous intelligence agent to Israel. Such a gesture would be very beneficial for the development of Russian-Israeli relations, and in addition it would allow to demonstrate the real influence of Russia on Damascus. But who knows whether Vladimir Putin will do this and whether the Israelis will get after the remains of the deceased tanker Baumel and the ashes of the reconnaissance Cohen?
However, the Israeli television channel Keshet, referring to the websites of the Syrian opposition, just now reported that the Russian delegation had taken out of Damascus the ashes of the legendary scout Eli Cohen.
Tel Aviv is very kind to its soldiers. For the release of one captured Israeli, the government, without hesitation, releases hundreds of Palestinians from prisons. Of particular importance to the Israelis is the search for the burial places of the dead IDF soldiers and officers.
Recently, Russia handed over to Israel the remains of Zakharia Baumel, who died 37 years ago. He served as a sergeant as a tank commander; on June 11, 1982, he died in the battle of Sultan Yakub in southern Lebanon. The fact that Russian special forces in Syria found the burial of Baumel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was personally informed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In Israel, the magnanimous gesture of the Russians was appreciated. Moreover, Moscow, risking the lives of special forces, did not take a dime for this, unlike the Arab states, which sell the bodies of dead Israelis as well as prisoners. Now in Tel Aviv, they hope that Russia will help return to the "Promised Land" the body of Eli Cohen, one of the most famous Israeli intelligence officers who was executed in Damascus in 1965.
A native of Alexandria, Egyptian Jew Eli Cohen from a young age worked for the Israeli secret services. In the end, he was forced to move to Israel, where after long attempts he was recruited to serve in the AMAN - the military intelligence of the IDF. Growing up in an Arabian environment, Eli Cohen spoke excellent Arabic and, more importantly, could behave indistinguishably from a real Egyptian Arab.
Under the name Kamal Amin Taabes, Israeli intelligence sent Eli Cohen to Argentina, where he, under the guise of an Arab businessman, began to visit the meeting places of Syrian diplomats and entrepreneurs. There, Cohen met with Major Amin al-Hafez Assad, who served as the military attaché of Syria in Argentina. And pretty quickly became his close friend.
When Assad came to power in Syria, Kamal Amin Taabes came to Damascus. Since that time, he revolved in a circle of the Syrian militarypolitical elite, was "on a short foot" with the generals and colonels of the army and special services of Syria. Soon he knew about the Syrian armed forces, about their weapons, training, relations with other countries, literally everything that could be found out. And at the same time he enjoyed the unlimited trust of Hafez al-Assad, who offered Kamal Amin Taabes the post of deputy minister of defense of the country.
In the end, Cohen became so "insolent" that he regularly got in touch with the "center" directly from his elite home next door to foreign embassies. Employees of the Embassy of India, who experienced interference in transmitting radiograms to their homeland, complained to Syrian diplomats, who reported to the intelligence services. The alarmed Syrians ordered a modern direction finder in Moscow. Soon, Cohen was calculated, "taking" in the act - the transmitter.
For three months, Cohen was in prison, was subjected to terrible torture. He was personally visited by Hafez al-Assad. Meanwhile, Israel launched an unprecedented campaign to free Cohen, connecting all who can be - from the Pope to Charles de Gaulle. But Hafez al-Assad was adamant. He was very offended that the man whom he trusted so much turned out to be an Israeli spy. On May 18, 1965, Eli Cohen was hanged on Al Mardha Square in central Damascus. Then, however, Assad showed respect for the deceased - Cohen's body was buried in the Jewish cemetery of Damascus according to the Jewish rite, under the control of the chief rabbi of Syria.
But five years later, Israeli special forces tried secretly to steal the remains of a scout. After that, the Syrians moved Cohen's ashes into a 30-meter bunker, which is located on the territory of the military unit - the 70th Tank Brigade in Damascus.
54 years have passed since the execution of Eli Cohen. The world political situation, as well as the situation in the Middle East, have changed significantly. And now Russia, having pressed on Bashar al-Assad, can achieve from Syria the transfer of the ashes of the famous intelligence agent to Israel. Such a gesture would be very beneficial for the development of Russian-Israeli relations, and in addition it would allow to demonstrate the real influence of Russia on Damascus. But who knows whether Vladimir Putin will do this and whether the Israelis will get after the remains of the deceased tanker Baumel and the ashes of the reconnaissance Cohen?
However, the Israeli television channel Keshet, referring to the websites of the Syrian opposition, just now reported that the Russian delegation had taken out of Damascus the ashes of the legendary scout Eli Cohen.
Information