How Eli Cohen's documents arrived in 'Israel': Israeli media
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Nearly 60 years after his execution, the secret archive of Israeli spy Eli Cohen was returned from Syria in a covert operation involving a helicopter landing in Sweida.
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In this undated photo released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, identity documents of Eli Cohen are displayed. (Israeli Prime Minister's Office via AP)
In a significant development, nearly 60 years after the execution of Israeli spy Eli Cohen, thousands of his secret documents have been returned to "Israel" from Syria.
Baruch Yedid, Arab affairs commentator for "Israel's" i24NEWS, revealed new insights into the covert operation during an appearance on Shabbat Magazine with Michal Rabinowitz.
According to a Syrian source who spoke with i24NEWS, the return of Eli Cohen's archives took place on May 2, when a helicopter landed in Sweida, southern Syria. The source claimed the transfer was intended as a gesture from Syrian President al-Sharaa to both "Israel" and the United States.
"The helicopter brought Eli Cohen's archive, as a signal from the government and a gesture from Syrian President al-Jolani to Israel and the United States," the source said, noting that the operation avoided the need to fly over Jordanian or Lebanese airspace.
Signals of dialogue between Syria and 'Israel'
The unusual air activity had initially sparked speculation in both Syria and "Israel." Some media reports suggested the aircraft had delivered food and weapons to the Druze community in Sweida or even smuggled a Druze leader to "Israel."
However, it has now emerged that the purpose was to collect and secure the secret documents, which had been guarded by a commander in al-Sharaa's armed forces.
The operation coincides with recent reports of diplomatic engagement between Syria and "Israel", while sources indicated that "good talks" were taking place in Azerbaijan under Turkish mediation.
Last month, i24NEWS also reported on direct communication between former Israeli security officials and al-Sharaa.
It is worth noting that the Eli Cohen archive return could signal broader shifts in Syria-"Israel" relations, with potential implications for a normalization agreement between them.
On May 18, "Israel" revealed that it had successfully retrieved a collection of documents, photographs, and personal items linked to Cohen, stating that its intelligence agency, Mossad, had collaborated with an unspecified foreign intelligence service to obtain the materials.
A Syrian security source, an advisor to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and an individual familiar with backchannel discussions between the two parties revealed that the archive of materials was presented to "Israel" as an indirect goodwill gesture by al-Sharaa, who aims to reduce hostilities and foster confidence with Trump.
Although "Israel" has repeatedly attempted to retrieve Cohen's body for a proper burial, the Mossad praised the recovery of his archive, which had been held by Syrian intelligence for six decades, as "an achievement of the highest moral order."
