Exposure of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen-Part 2

Exposure of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen-Part 2

Eli Cohen

   Eli Cohen photographed the Soviet Mig-21 fighter for the first time and also reported arrival of 200 T54 tanks from the Soviet Union. Eli Cohen also delivered to Israel the detailed plan given to Syria by the Soviet military advisers. They had asked the Syrian forces to cut off Northern Israel in a surprise attack. This would have weakened the Israeli army as most of the important military posts were in that region. He also apprised Israel of the details of Jordan water-diversion scheme mooted by Syria. 

   Because of his close contact with the President, Eli Cohen alias Kamil Amin Taabes was being groomed for political office. During 1950-60, there was talk of his being appointed Information and Propaganda Minister. There were rumors that he might become deputy Minister of Defense. You can guage from this, the trust that his friend Amim Al-Hafez, President of Syria placed in him.
 

   As indicated above, his downfall was not due to vigilance of the Syrian counter-intelligence. His apartment was near Indian Embassy. The radio operators at the Indian Embassy complained of frequent interference with their wireless communications. The Syrians did not have sophisticated equipment to trace the cause of this disturbance. The help of Soviet advisers was sought as they had special radio tracking material. With their aid the Syrians were able to pinpoint the source of disturbance. It was the house of Kamil Amin Taabes alias Eli Cohen.

   They knew he was a friend of the President. With great trepidation they entered his house and found Eli Cohen transmitting messages. They forced Eli Cohen to transmit their message. It read, ”To the Prime Misinter of Israel and the Chief of the Secret Service in Tel Aviv. Kamil and his friends are our guests in Damascus. You will hear of their fate soon. Signed: the counter-espionage service of Syria.”

  

The President could hardly believe that his friend, Kamil Amin Taabes was a spy. For some time, he hesitated to sign his friend’s death warrant. There were appeals for clemency all over the world. But, President Amin Al-Hafez knew that his position will be compromised if he shed any leniency to his friend. His political opponents were bound to rake the matter in public. At last, he signed the papers authorizing public hanging of Eli Cohen.
 

Want to read the first part of this article...      Click Here

Want to read more about spies and spy scandals...   Click Here