By the early 1950s, Egypt was undergoing significant political changes, culminating in a military coup. As anti-Zionism grew in Egypt, Cohen became a target due to his Jewish and Zionist activities. In 1951, he was arrested by the Egyptian authorities, though there was no concrete evidence against him. After the Suez Crisis in 1956, the atmosphere for Jews in Egypt grew increasingly hostile. Cohen was forced to leave Egypt and emigrate to Israel. Upon his arrival, Cohen found himself at a crossroads, uncertain about his future. He eventually decided to join the Israeli army intelligence, although he found the work unexciting and unsatisfying.
Cohen’s chance to engage in more significant operations came when he was recruited by the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. Initially rejected due to his lack of prior experience, Cohen’s name came to the attention of Mossad chief General Meir Amit, who recognized his potential. Cohen was brought into the fold, and after extensive training in espionage and covert operations, he was given an assignment that would make him a household name in espionage history: to infiltrate the Syrian government.
In 1961, Cohen was given a false identity as Kamel Amin, a Syrian businessman returning from Argentina. The mission required Cohen to travel to Argentina to bolster the credibility of his cover story. Once in Syria, Cohen settled in Damascus, where he began to integrate into the local society. His charm, intelligence, and social skills allowed him to quickly gain the trust of key individuals in Syria’s military and political circles. This trust, which Cohen built over the next few years, enabled him to collect and transmit critical information back to Israel.