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 (the Mossad) 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 Gabay as General Haleb (credited as Sason Gabay)
• Michal Bat-Adam as Nadia Cohen
• Rami Danon as Avram
• Chaim Jeraffi as Salloum (credited as Haim Girafi)
• Jacques Cohen as Assan (credited as Jack Cohen)
• Anat Barzilai as Galela (credited as Anat Barzilay)
• Yossi Keinan as Nassim (credited as Yossi Kenan)
• Yehudit Millo as Madame Massim (credited as Judith Millo)
• Victor Kamar as Major Massim (credited as Victor Kammar)
• Shlomo Sadan as Syrian Colonel
• Wahabi Hasson as Egyptian Police Inspector
• Shmuel Shiloh as Rabbi (credited as Shmuel Shillo)
• Ahuva Keren as Salloum's Girlfriend (credited as Ahouva Keren)
• Hamdi El-Asmar as Hadj