The Impossible Spy
The Impossible Spy is a 1987 television film based on the true story of an Israeli civilian spy, Eli Cohen, who was recruited into Israel's secret intelligence agency in the 1960s to become a spy in Damascus. Prior to his capture in 1965, Cohen was about to be appointed the third-most powerful figure in Syria—the Deputy Minister of Defense. Cohen's memorization of Syria's individual gun placements along the Golan Heights enabled Israel to defeat Syria in the Six-Day War in 1967.
The film's executive producer was Harvey Chertok; it was directed by Jim Goddard and starred John Shea, Eli Wallach and Sasson Gabai.
The Impossible Spy was released in 1987 and won an HBO CableACE Award for Best Picture.
Cast
- John Shea as Elie Cohen
- Eli Wallach as Yacov
- Sasson Gabai as General Haleb
- Michal Bat-Adam as Nadia Cohen
- Rami Danon as Avram
- Haim Girafi as Salloum
- Jacques Cohen as Assan
- Anat Barzilay as Galela
- Yossi Kenan as Nassim
- Judith Millo as Madame Massim
- Victor Kammar as Major Massim
- Shlomo Sadan as Syrian Colonel
- Wahabi Hasson as Egyptian Police Inspector
- Shmuel Shillo as Rabbi
- Ahouva Keren as Salloum's Girlfriend
- Hamdi El-Asmar as Hadj