Russia Airs Rare Footage of Heroic Israeli Spy Eli Cohen in Syria

In previously unseen footage, broadcast during talks for the release of the Israeli woman who crossed the border into Syria, the legendary spy is seen walking through streets of the country’s capital.

By Neta Bar and Hanan Greenwood, Israel Hayom via JNS

Russia’s English-language state television channel RT has aired what it claims to be previously unseen footage of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen in Damascus.

The broadcast came as Moscow was mediating efforts to return an Israeli woman who had crossed the border into Syria.

According to RT, the rare footage was discovered in film taken by a Russian military attaché in Damascus at the time. The half-hour clip includes a street brawl and images of police officers arresting drivers, as well as images of the bustling market in Damascus’ Old City. Alongside the tourist scenes, the film also allegedly contained snippets from a military base visited by the Russian attaché and of Eli Cohen walking through the streets of the Syrian capital.

It is unclear whether the Israeli spy was caught on camera by chance or if he was filmed on purpose. According to RT, the clip was filmed near Syrian Air Force headquarters, in the heart of the city’s government district, and the vicinity of Cohen’s apartment.

Cohen’s widow, Nadia, told Israel Hayom that she had watched the clip with excitement. “This is another reminder of my Eli,” she said.

Calling her husband “the people’s hero,” she said.”We will not be silent. We will continue to commemorate him. We will soon embark on a campaign to establish a museum in his memory. Just a week and a half ago, we built a private monument next to the Upper Custom House [in the Golan Heights]. There were a lot of graduates, generals. Everything comes from the people: the love, the embrace, the affection.”

This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.