Eliyahu eli cohen, an egyptian jew, was born in alexandria in 1924. Jul 26, 2007 the impossible spy the impossible spy official trailer. Dec 08, 1987 filmed in israel, the impossible spy tells the story of elie cohen, an employee of mossad, the secret intelligence agency, who in 1965 was exposed and executed in syria. The remarkable part, of course, is that it really happened. He managed to embed himself into syrian high society and rise through the ranks of their politics until he was uncovered by the syrian regime, sentenced to death and publicly hanged in a damascus square in 1965. A diplomat with great love for his country, cohen is given the impossible task of traveling to damascus with the purpose of infiltrating the syrian government as a. The production company has purchased the filming rights to shmuel segevs book alone in damascus about cohen s life, movieweb reported yesterday, citing variety magazine. The spy 2019 tvma 1 season tv shows based on books in the 1960s, israeli clerkturnedsecret agent eli cohen goes deep undercover inside syria on a perilous, yearslong mission to spy for mossad. Discover how eli cohen, a jewish israeli spy, became third in line to the presidency of syria and saved thousands of israelis in the process. The impossible spy is a 1987 television film based on the true story of an israeli civilian spy, eli cohen, who was recruited into israels secret intelligence agency. The spy is a six episode series that will see sacha baron cohen playing reallife spy eli cohen no relation, who worked for israel in the early 1960s, going undercover in syria.
It doesnt work if it was the latter, because the spy feels strangely timeless and most definitely not of that era. In the 1987 tv movie the impossible spy, michal batadam portrayed nadia, while in the 2019 netflix series the spy, hadar ratzonrotem played her, with sacha baron cohen as eli. With john shea, eli wallach, sasson gabai, michal bat adam. The spy tells the story of legendary israeli spy eli cohen. He is best known for his espionage work in 19611965 in syria, where he developed close relationships with the syrian political and military hierarchy, and. Eli cohen s daughter lukewarm on the spy, but likes sacha baron cohen s acting sophie bendor laments the distance from the truth and says it hurt to watch the netflix series. Screening of portions of the impossible spy about the life and times of israels greatest spy, eli cohen. The physical resemblance is uncanny but thats about all mercury and eli cohen, baron cohen s character in the spy, have in common since eli cohen is israels most famous spy. Young israeli husband eli cohen is recruited by the mossad in the. The sixepisode series tells the story of eli cohen, a spy for israel in s.
So far, only photos of the event have been published, not videos. Israels national hero, eli cohen, successfully entered the upper echelons of the syrian government as a doubleagent. A beloved hero when the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. I found it very helpful even though i knew about eli cohen. The impossible spy wikimili, the free encyclopedia. In israel, eli cohen is seen as an iconic figure, a national hero and the most successful spy in the countrys history. The impossible spy, released in the united states in 1987, tells the story based on real life events of israeli national hero eli cohen. The impossible spy the story of eli cohen, the legendary israeli agent. He is best known for his espionage work in 19611965 in syria, where he developed close relationships with. Apr 11, 2018 sacha baron cohen has been cast in the lead role of the netflix limited series the spy, variety has learned. Young israeli husband eli cohen is recruited by the mossad in the early 1960s and sent to syria. The britishus coproduction the impossible spy is based on the life and career of israeli undercover agent elie cohen. This is the true story of an israeli civilian eli cohen who was recruited into israels secret intelligence agency to become a spy in damascus and who became israels national hero.
The impossible spy is the story of eli cohen a double spy. What the impossible spy does better than any other spy movie in recent history is present both sides of the story. The secrets he obtained became crucial in israels victory in the 1967 six day war. Watch impossible spy, the online vimeo on demand on vimeo. We changed the time so as not to conflict with the yom hashoah event that evening. Eli cohens daughter lukewarm on the spy, but likes. Sep 25, 2018 the impossible spy the story of eli cohen, the legendary israeli agent. Israeli spy eli cohen, left, and two other unidentified codefendants, during their trial in damascus, ten days before his execution, may 9, 1965. Sacha baron cohen to star in netflix drama the spy variety.
The secrets he obtained became crucial in israels victory in the. A portrait of spies and spying that is as chilling as it is compelling, and as. Sacha baron cohen to star as eli cohen in netflix series the. Although the literature does not provide much information on the membership of eli cohen in, the order of freemasons, it is clear from the findings in the article that his membership in the order and learning his principles constituted an important.
Double agents widow offers new take on eli cohen affair. Cohens story has been told on screen before, in the 90minute, 1987 british drama the impossible spy. The story begins in 1959, with the egyptianborn cohen john shea being. Sep 05, 2019 the remarkable part, of course, is that it really happened.
In the 1960s, israeli clerkturnedsecret agent eli cohen goes deep undercover inside syria on a perilous, yearslong mission to spy for mossad. One thought on the unknown, incredible life of eli cohen yehudis fishman july, 2018 at 11. Telling his wife he has a new job that requires extensive business travel, he takes up residence in syria, where he befriends a highranking syrian government official and provides invaluable information to israel. Eli cohen, who infiltrated the highest echelons of syria and was executed after his capture, is remembered by israel and the world as the greatest israeli spy. Eli has been dead for 40 years now, and though i did not kill him, i am fully aware that my failure to disclose what i knew my have sealed his fate. Eli cohen lived in damascus undercover in the beginning of the 60s, spying for israel. John shea plays eli cohen who infiltrates the syrian. An israeli spy called for an investigation committee to look into finding the truth behind the story of eli cohen, the legendary israeli spy in syria. Based on the true story of elie cohen, israels national hero, whose daring mission took him from argentina to damascus where he successfully entered the upper echelons of the syrian government. Between 1961 and 1965 cohen passed syrian secrets to the israeli government in what is remembered as one of the most daring and productive. Elis cohn operates in damascus, syria in order to bring back important secret information to him own country, israel. Israeli spy eli cohen performs a valuable espionage service while sacrificing his family and himself in the period before the 1967 six days war. Israels national hero, eli cohen, successfully entered the upper echelons of the syrian government as a. The story begins in 1959, with the egyptianborn cohen john shea being recruited by the israeli mossad.
Eli cohen was born in alexandria, egypt, on december 26, 1928 sic 1924. The impossible spy is a 1987 television film based on the true story of an israeli civilian spy, eli cohen, who was recruited into israels secret intelligence agency the mossad in the 1960s to become a spy in damascus. The secrets he obtained became crucial in israels victory in the 1967 sixday war. Eli s largerthanlife persona has attracted many filmmakers, who have then used his story for their projects. This is the secret of eliahu cohen, israels most famous spy.
Netflix orders sacha baron cohen spy series, the spy. Dec 17, 2016 the impossible spy tv movie 1987 on imdb. The impossible spy by jim goddard jim goddard, john shea. Prior to his capture in 1965, cohen was about to be appointed the thirdmost powerful figure in syriathe deputy minister of defense. The impossible spy by quartet international overdrive. Elie cohn, by eli benhanan, published in 1969, tell about an israeli spy that had been sent by the israeli government to spy in damascus, syria. How israels impossible spy defeated the syrian army. Decades after the eli cohen affair there are still many questions, some minor, others major among them, the way in which syrian counterintelligence identified the israeli spy from the archive. Based on the true story of elie cohen, israels national hero, whose daring mission took him from argentina to damascus where. New footage emerges of eli cohen on the gallows ynetnews.
The real story behind the spy, sacha baron cohen s new netflix series legendary israeli agent eli cohen embedded himself into the upper crust of syrian society, providing intelligence to. The impossible spy the impossible spy official trailer. The timespicayune new orleans a reallife spy thriller cloaked in spellbinding performances. In 1959, ellie cohen john shea, an unassuming israeli accountant, is recruited by the spy agency mossad to gather intelligence on the syrian government. A diplomat with great love for his country, cohen is given the impossible task of traveling to damascus with the purpose of infiltrating the syrian government as. This is the true story of an israeli civilian who was recruited into israels secret intelligence agency to become a spy in damascus, where he spent years infiltrating the syrian political establishment. Eli cohen, in full eliahu ben shaoul cohen, also called kamal amin thaabet, born 1924, alexandria, egyptdied may 18, 1965, damascus, syria, egyptianborn israeli spy who infiltrated the highest ranks of the syrian military and government by posing as a syrian businessman. John shea is surprisingly effective as eli cohen and eli wallach as the leader of israeli intelligence. Apr 12, 2018 sacha baron cohen will star in a limited netflix series about the israeli mossad agent eli cohen, who served in syria as a spy for israel in the 1960s. The impossible spy official trailer 80s movies spy. Eli cohen was a hero on whose myth i grew up as well, dr. The impossible spy streaming video the seattle public.
On this date in 1965, israels greatest spy suffered an ignominious public hanging in martyrs square, damascus. This may be meant to serve as a callback to the famous monochrome image most tragically associated with eli cohen, but it may also just be an attempt to make the series feel like it is set in the 60s. Eli cohen, egyptianborn israeli spy who infiltrated the highest ranks of the syrian military and government by posing as a syrian businessman. The story of eli cohen, the israeli superspy who almost. Nadia cohen biography facts, childhood, family life. Apr 11, 2018 sacha baron cohen is set to headline the sixepisode limited series the spy, which will debut globally on netflix outside of france, and on ocs in france. The impossible spy 1986 stream and watch online moviefone.
Agency to become a spy in damascus, where he spent years infiltrating the syrian political establishment. The impossible spy is a bbc coproduction and was deemed to be controversial at the time of its showing. Released 1986, the impossible spy stars john shea, eli wallach, michal batadam, rami danon the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 36 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. Like eli, i was a member of israeli intelligence, a mossad agent, now retired. Filmed in israel, the impossible spy tells the story of elie cohen, an employee of mossad, the secret intelligence agency, who in 1965 was exposed and executed in syria. Netflix to make series about israeli spy eli cohen. New video emerges of final moments when israeli spy eli cohen was hanged in damascus i24news duration. Filmed in israel, the impossible spy tells the story of elie cohen, an employee of mossad, the secret intelligence agency, who in 1965 was. Cohen, a mildmannered jewish accountant, wants no part of. The real story behind the spy, sacha baron cohens new. With john shea, eli wallach, sasson gabai, michal batadam. Eli cohen was a brave fighter, an unknown soldier in the service of the israeli state. With sacha baron cohen, hadar ratzon rotem, yael eitan, noah emmerich.