Israel publishes last telegram of its spy in Syria

JERUSALEM

Israeli authorities on Monday published the last telegram sent by Mossad spy Eli Cohen before his arrest and execution by Syrian authorities in 1965.

“In the telegram dated Feb. 19, 1965, the day he was arrested, the Mossad agent Cohen talks about the meeting of the Syrian General Staff that was held that evening with the participation of the Syrian President at the time, Amin al-Hafez,” the government’s media office said in a statement.

Mossad chief David Barnea said the reason for Cohen’s arrest has always been controversial.

“Cohen was not caught because of the amount of transmission or pressure from the headquarters to send repeatedly, but rather because the enemy intercepted his messages,” he added.

Barnea said the Mossad “will continue to uncover intelligence information and new details about the period in which Cohen served in Syria, and will continue to work to bring his remains for burial in Israel."

Israel considers Cohen to be one of its most important spies given that he arrived in Syria in January 1962, under the name "Kamel Amin Thabet", and resided in the capital, Damascus.

The Israeli spy had forged relations with senior Syrian officials and held important positions and gathered detailed information on the Syrian army and its activities in the Golan Heights and on the decision-making mechanism in Damascus, before he was arrested and executed on May 18, 1965.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report