He organized several protest campaigns against the British rule. In Episode 5, Maurice puts the clues together when he covers for the regular analyst that communicates with Cohen using Morse code. [7], In January 1965, Syrian officials, who used Soviet-made tracking equipment and were assisted by Soviet experts, increased their efforts to find a high-level spy. [8], Israel's secret police recruited a sabotage unit of Jewish Egyptian citizens in 1955 which attempted to undermine Egypt's relationships with western powers in the "Lavon Affair". He became far less careful in his transmissions to Israel, sometimes calling once or even twice a day and almost always at the same time, at 8:30 in the morning. In 1960, he was recruited to join the Mossad for a special mission in which he was to pretend to be a Syrian businessman returning to the country after having lived in Argentina. She had no idea about Elis secret mission and thus did not see the threats and risks involved. At times before the civil war, the Syrians used Israels northern border with Lebanon to harass Israel the way they used to from the Golan Heights. While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. The highly vigilant Russian security experts, equipped with very sensitive technical intelligence-gathering equipment, pinpointed the source of the transmissions in the Syrian capital and it was Elis home. Recalling Elis final days, Nadia states he was in Bat Yam, with her and the three babies. Likud MK Eli Cohen Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 8, 2022. [19] He also learned of a secret plan to create three successive lines of bunkers and mortars; the Israel Defense Forces would otherwise have expected to encounter only a single line. He soon became accepted, well-liked, and respected, and made contacts with politicians, diplomats and military officials working out of the Syrian Embassy. Eli Cohenarrived in Buenos Aires and checked into a hotel .a local teacher would get in touch with him and teach him the Spanish language. According to al-Gamal's version, he saw a photograph in an Arab newspaper at a newspaper stand in Frankfurt's train station that showed Amin Kamel Thabet touring fortifications on the Golan Heights with Syrian officers. The Israel Defense Forces were alleged to have used the trees as targeting markers during the Six-Day War, which enabled Israel to capture the Golan Heights in two days. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Israeli ambassador, Itzhak Gerberg, would not comment on the report. soon Israel's tanks and cannon riposted with heavy fire, and minutes later mirage pounded the Syrian position and blasted the cannon of Syria that was dug. "His parents, Syrian Jews from the thriving town of Aleppo, had always instilled in their educationally minded son the traditions of the Jewish people, of Zionism, and of the culture of Syria's Jewish community, in particular." The Spy, a six-part Netflix miniseries about Cohen's life, showcases the legendary Mossad agent's relationship with his wife, Nadia (Hadar Ratzon Rotem). The Spy is streaming globally on Netflix. [30], Cohen has become a national hero in Israel, and many streets and neighborhoods have been named for him. The text messages between Khalid and the NZSIS. I think as long as Bashar Assad is in power I dont see the word progress,' she said, referring to Syrias dictator. The True Story Behind The Spy on Netflix | Time Eli told Nadia that he got a job with a company that works with defense and foreign ministries, he needs to travel to Europe to buy tools and equipment, and materials for Israel's military. Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anything. Thats why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. Kamal Amin Tabet hosted a glamorous party in Damascus, several ministers, a large number of general and colonel, top leaders of the Baath party, businessmen. Some attributed this to a sense of cockiness (despite the fears he had expressed in November 1964), due to the ability and ease he had moved about in the highest echelons of Syrian power. "Their ages range from four and a half to 32." "You must be very proud," I offer. "I want to ask wasn't Eli worth the price? Decades after the Eli Cohen affair there are still many questions, some minor, others major - among them, the way in which Syrian counterintelligence identified the Israeli spy (from the archive). "I was cooperating with the New Zealand Secret Intelligence Service, in cooperation with the Mossad, in order to help find the remains of the Israeli spy Eli Cohen," he said. In the fifties, Israel had launched a project of huge pipeline and canals that would carry a part of the jorden river water to the arid Negev region. He ultimately complied. Eli Cohen was first sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to establish his cover as a Syrian emigre. [15], Cohen moved to Damascus in February 1962 under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet (Arabic: ). Cohen would then send intelligence back to Israel using a hidden radio transmitter. Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel, 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved, Sophie Ben-Dor (Screen capture: Channel 12 News), This undated photo shows Israeli spy Eli Cohen in Syria wearing a wristwatch recovered by the Mossad in 2018. All these years, I remained faithful to him. Monthir Maosily, a former bureau chief for Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, claimed in 2007 that Hafiz and Cohen were not as close as was made out and that stories of Cohen infiltrating the very top of Syrian politics "had been exaggerated to undermine Syria, as if he was a spy who had transmitted Syria's deepest secrets.". - From Eli Cohen's last letter to his wife Nadia and his children, written an hour before his execution in Damascus. Sign in to stop seeing this, Sara Netanyahu accosted by protesters at Tel Aviv hair salon, extricated by police, Brides joy turns to sorrow after Elan Ganeles killed driving to her wedding, Hiker discovers 2,500-year-old ancient receipt from reign of Purim kings father, Netanyahu compares Tel Aviv protesters to settlers who set fire to Huwara. Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: Netflix drama 'raises my blood pressure' What Netflix's 'The Spy' Gets Wrong About Eli Cohen While working as an intelligence officer offer him a job with high pay, Eli didn't say no and become a secret agent. The six-part drama about Israeli spy Eli Cohen has gripped viewers and critics alike with its pulse-racing tale of espionage and a deceptively good dramatic performance by Sacha Baron Cohen, better known for his comedy work, as the Mossad agent. As we saw, the Syrians continually harassed Israels northern settlements from 1948-67. From 1961 to 1965, Eli transmitted crucial intelligence data, including that of the Golan Heights, to the Israeli army. Nadia was told that Eli was working for the ministry of defense and would be completely safe. It was approved by, The head of the presidency council on 17/5/1965, Top 10 Weakest Militaries in the World | The Bahamas, Central African Republic, The Gambia,Barbados, Somalia, Luxembourg military power, MiG-29 vs. Su-27: The Soviet Union's Two Top Fighters Went Head to Head in an East African Air War, Ravindra Kaushik RAW Agent ( Black Tiger) Wife, son, Death reason, | Facts about Ravindra Kaushik | Ravindra Kaushik Movie, Israel's Iron Dome Vs S-400 Russian Comparison, Price, Success Rate | Iron Dome vs S400 which is better, Top amazing facts about RAW and Agent : History, Foundation, Joining , Department of RAW, Eli Cohen Wife, Children | Israeli Spy biography | Last Letter to his wife and Children | Eli Cohen death writing translation | george seif syria. The complete trust Cohen enjoyed among his unwitting informants is illustrated by the following incident, which might have serious consequences for the Israeli agents. [34], The Israeli settlement Eliad on the Golan Heights is named for him.[35]. On July 5, 2018, media channels announced that Elis wristwatch had been retrieved from Syria, which was later given back to Eli's family by 'Mossad' in a ceremony. Eli Cohen's daughter Sofia Ben-Dor was excited about it because that is all they have. According to his fictional biography, in 1948 the family moved to Argentina, where they opened a successful textile business. Kamal Amin Taabets (Eli Cohen) return to Syria would ostensibly be the fulfillment of a lifelong patriotic dream. In his late teens, Cohen became an ardent Zionist and at the same time, as . In 1962 Eli cohen was in Damascus with crowded mosques and colorful souks, he rented a luxurious villa in the classy Abu Ramen neighborhood, close to the Syrian embassy. Others have attributed the carelessness to an almost suicidal tendency perhaps, it was later surmised, he had been in the undercover world too long, but knew he couldnt get out of it. Sacha Baron Cohen in 'The Spy' as Eli Cohen. In Episode 5, Cohen's playboy-esque Thaabet hosts a sex party at his apartment to distract key government and military officials while the Ba'ath Party's military committee seizes power in Damascus. The goal was to gather intelligence from high-ranking Syrian politicians and military officials. Prior to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, Cohen was arrested and interrogated over his Zionist activities. I had gotten under his cover," said Maurice Cohen. Eli himself was not above the spicier part of a spys life either. "It works with a range of international intelligence agencies,'' the NZSIS said in response. To no avail. His graduate report stated that he had all the qualities needed to become a katsa, or field agent. In the show, Cohenas Thaabetbefriends Hafiz in Buenos Aires and later in Damascus helps Hafiz's Ba'ath party seize power. And much of the credit for Israels ability to capture the Golan was due to Eli Cohen, Israels greatest spy. For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office. Israel tried to obtain the cooperation of her Arab neighbors for the plan, but the Arabs would not agree, even when the United States tried to use its diplomatic leverage for the furtherance of the plan. "Concentrate on yourself; look forward to a better future!". Eli studied at a local Jewish community school and then attended the 'University of Alexandria' to study electrical engineering. His first assignment was to infiltrate the Jewish community of Alexandria. Cohen wrote in his final letter on 15 May 1965:[7]. They successfully detected radio transmissions and were able to triangulate the transmitter. Cohen wasnt allowed tell anyone of the plans and told his wife that he was working abroad for Israels Defense Ministry. Once registered, youll receive our Daily Edition email for free. Due to this information, the Israeli Air Force was able to obliterate the Syrian plans for the diversion scheme by shelling and bombing the bulldozers and other equipment used for the scheme in early 1964. "He began writing the number but stopped abruptly and, looking flushed and flustered, mumbled under his breath about needing to run out to the supermarket before it closed. Cohen was publicly hanged in the Marjeh Square in Damascus on 18 May 1965. In 1965, the Syrian secret service was on high alert. he soon became a well-known figure in the Arab circle. later he handed with Syrian passport in name of kamal Amin tabet, he advised to open a bank account in that name and start visiting Arab restaurants, the cinema where Arab movies are shown, and political club. One of the more famous aspects of his spying regarded a trip he took to the Golan Heights. Elis connections enabled him to be taken to the Golan Heights a major strategic asset for Syria from 1948-67. Eli Cohen - Wikipedia Eli Cohen was now a member of the inner circle of power. In 1954, Egyptian authorities arrested Eli for being a terror suspect. His remains have yet to be returned, despite pleas from his family. In the name of the Syrian Arab people, The Military court has decided in its meeting which was held on Muharram 7th, 1385 - May 8th, 1965 to sentence Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen, a resident of Tel Aviv in Occupied Palestine, to death for committing the following crimes: The crime of disguised entry into a military location. After several days, Eli got a new identity as. Eli Cohen's son, Shaul, was only 2 weeks old when he last saw his father. "Soon after, my commanding officers summoned me to my base and informed me that Eli had spoken to them about the phone number incident. In 2019, Netflix created the seriesThe SpystarringSacha Baron Cohen to tell his story. For more than 50 years, Nadia has fought to have her husbands body returned to Israel. In February 1962, Cohen moved to Damascus. [5] He studied at Cairo Farouk University. It was after Atassi resigned on July 27 that Hafiz was named president. when you were three, your family left Lebanon and moved to Egypt Alexandria. Employment was not always steady, and he soon had to rely more on Nadia to help support their marriage, which would quickly lead to children. Israeli foreign minister Golda Meir led a campaign urging Damascus to consider the consequences of hanging him. His successes couldn't be vocally shared with his family, however. They had three childrenSophie, Irit, and Shaiand the family settled in Bat Yam. Ben-Dor was pessimistic that Israel would soon be able to retrieve her fathers body from Syria. The agency concluded that Cohen had a high IQ, great bravery, a phenomenal memory, and the ability to keep a secret; but the tests also showed that in spite of his modest appearance, he has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and a lot of internal tension. Cohen, the results indicated, does not always evaluate danger correctly, and is liable to assume risks beyond those which are necessary.. Again, I. Hafiz ordered Cohen's execution after he was convicted of espionage in 1965. Eli had to conceal the microfilm inexpensive boxes containing backgammon pieces .the music ornament could be dug out of the polished wood and reinserted after microfilm had been placed in the cavity. Did you spend your weekend binge-watching Netflix's taut thriller, The Spy? Cohen was caught and eventually executed by Syrian authorities in 1965. Eli Cohenhad succeeded in friending a Saudi entrepreneur who had been contracted to plan and dig canals, the name was his friend was bin Laden, little Osama's father. From 1948 until 1967, Syria firing mortar shells from the Syrian occupied Golan Heights into the Jewish settlements of the Upper Galilee below. Widow of Israeli spy Eli Cohen: 'When he was caught, something died But an interview published in the Cairo Times yesterday with the German-born Weltrude Scheffeldt-Biton suggests that Egyptian intelligence played the most important role in unmasking Cohen. (Haim Zach/GPO). Syrian counterintelligence eventually uncovered the spy conspiracy and convicted Cohen under pre-war martial law, sentencing him to death and hanging him publicly in 1965. Khalid al-Hafidh, a Syrian migrant living in Auckland, claims to be the son Amin al-Hafiz, a Syrian leader who presided over the country during Cohen's execution and his subsequent secret burial. No film or video was previously known to exist of the execution. "I beg you my dear Nadia do not spend your life weeping for what has past," his final letter read. On May 15, 1965, Eli wrote a final letter to Nadia, requesting her not to mourn his death and stating that she should hold her head high, as her husband had done nothing wrong. Eli Cohen, at 29, offered his services to the Israeli Intelligence Services but was rebuked twice. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Text messages sent from an NZSIS agent called "Carl" appear to show him brokering a deal. The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the. Eli's handlers were continually persuading him to return. Based on the eucalyptus trees, Israel knew exactly where the Syrian fortifications were. Eli Cohen, Israels most famous spy, also happened to be a hopeless romantic. In exchange for his freedom, he agreed to work for Egypt's intelligence service. He wrote a last letter to his wife before he mounted the scaffold to a seething crowd. Nadia and Eli Cohen pictured in the 1960s The 41-year-old was brutally hanged in Marjeh Square in Damascus in front of a crowd of 10,000 people, in May 1965 - and despite his last request to have his body returned to Israel, the Syrian authorities have to this day never disclosed the whereabouts of his remains. Cohen later. I give you my blessing. Speaking to Cohen's brother, and to Israeli and Syrian intelligence experts, Sputnik has pieced together a new look at the superspy's incredible life story. Eli could watch the entrance to the Syrian government officials' guest house. In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, born circa 1935, [10] an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1924. Even after the blown operation led to the demise of the Operation Susannah spies, Eli Cohen left Egypt for Israel to undergo intensive espionage training in the summer of 1955. Al-Gamal was born in 1927 and aspired to become an actor. The location of Cohen's body remains unknown. He is best known for his espionage work in 196165 in Syria, where he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military hierarchy.[1][2][3]. [6] Cohen spoke five languages fluently. One of the most difficult tasks for Eli Cohen was to learn the intricate and unmistakable phonetic tune of Syrian Arabic; prior to his intelligence training, his Egyptian accent was undeniable. His trainer was an Iraqi-born Jew who had extensive experience training operatives in speaking Arabic and the traditions and Muslim customs. Eli was, however, taken in by 'Mossad' when Director-General Meir Amit was in search of a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government. Israel has for decades worked to retrieve his remains. In November 1964, Tel Dan Syria open fire on Israel tractors in the demilitarized zone. He would also lend money to government officials, and many came to him for advice. Israel attacked the project serval time later they abandon the project in 1965. [29] Mossad director Yossi Cohen presented it to Cohen's family in a ceremony, and it is currently on display at Mossad headquarters. Cohen was released because he was not linked with the underground. In addition, the commander of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Suedani trusted no one and disliked Eli. Following Israel's independence in 1949, when Jewish families were leaving Egypt, Eli stayed back to finish his electronics degree. The melting winter snows produce a huge run-off of water which makes the Golan a beautifully verdant area in the late winter and spring and irrigates the Hula and Jordan Valleys below. On 18 May 1965, Eli cohen was woken by the jailer and fastened the noose, and hang up, the huge poster was fastened on his chest where his sentence was written in Arabic. This is adefinitive andfinal verdict. A New Zealander claiming to the son of a former Syrian president, says he knows the whereabouts of the executed Israeli spy's remains, according to a report on New Zealand news service Newshub on Sunday. She understood from him that he would be working for the Ministry of Defense, but she didnt know where or in what capacity. Eli Cohen's daughter lukewarm on 'The Spy,' but likes Sacha Baron Cohen Israeli spy's widow 'hurt' by Netflix biopic, but welcomes publicity At the same time, Israeli officials devised escape schemes and appealed to international organizations. The execution was recorded on 35mm film. Do what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. According to Maurice Cohen, this really happened. But what happened next apparently deviates from the way it appears in the show. Its unfamiliar to me, this form of expression in a global television series. Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen (Hebrew: , Arabic: ; 6 December 1924 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. He was tortured, but he wouldnt give away any incriminating information about Israel. He had three brothers. Their youngest child, Shai, was only 21 days old then. They had a son, Daniel, and after the Six Day War they celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. in Israel, he found the job of translating weekly and monthly magazines for a man after a few months he was fired. A year later your sister dies.in 1947 all of you arrived in Argentina. Elis friendship with Amin al-Hafez proved very valuable. In early 1964, Eli was able to radio Tel Aviv that the channel was being dug along the entire length of the Syrian Heights to receive the diverted flow of the Baniyas River - one of the Jordans major sources - and empty into Jordanian territory. Eli carefully spelled out all the details of the project and passed them on to Israeli Intelligence. Periodically Eli would return to Israel to speak with his Israeli handlers and visit his wife and small children. After a few months, Eli was visited by George Salem Seif, a radio show host in charge of radio Damascus broadcast for Syrian abord. I hope, pray, that he will be returned home by the time I die," Nadia told Haaretz in 2010. The agent replied: "Will do, thanks K". Eli Cohen was the man for the job. It could not let Syria succeed and planning a response. They married in 1959, a month after meeting, and had three children together. Eli visited other Arab friends as Abdel Latif Hassan and his briefcase was full of enthusiastic letters of recommendation. In February 2007, a Turkish official assured assistance to Eli's family to get back his body. [31] A memorial stone has been erected to Cohen in the Garden of the Missing Soldiers in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem. Eli expressed his fear and wish to terminate his assignment in Syria during his last visit to Israel in November 1964. Eli Cohen provided an incredible amount of intelligence data to the Israeli Army over a period of three years. ", "Former Assad aide: Eli Cohen's burial site unknown],mm", "New footage emerges of Eli Cohen on the gallows", "Mossad Brings Home Watch of Israeli Spy Executed in Syria; Netanyahu Hails 'Brave' Op", "Watch of famed Israeli spy Eli Cohen recovered by Mossad", "The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy", "Will Assad's Ouster Free Body of Israel Spy? After weeks of surveillance, he was finalized and was put to training. Nadia Cohen Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life, Achievements When the Golan was captured in 1967, at almost the end of the Six-Day War, settlers in the north could finally feel relieved. Eli was, however, persuaded continuously by Israeli intelligence agencies to return to Syria. The drunk guests would often end up blabbing about their work to Cohen, who was sober but would pretend to be intoxicated. In January 1965, Syrian government officials announced that Eli is an Israeli spy. In 1951, he was arrested and interrogated over his Jewish and Zionist activities that he was carrying out under the tutelage of Alexandria's chief rabbi. He had also participated in various Israeli furtive operations in the country during the 1950s. He was caught and sentenced to death. While there are reports that Cohen hosted parties that would devolve into orgies at his apartment, in order to gain the trust of high-level people in power, there's no concrete evidence that he played a role in the March 1963 coup. they made great efforts to locate the secret transmission to Israel with help of Soviet-made equipment, in January 1965 they got success. [18], Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions. [12][16], In 2016, a Syrian group calling itself "Syrian art treasures" posted a video on Facebook showing Cohen's body after his execution. The Story of Eli Cohen, the Israeli Superspy Who Almost Became Syria's Over the years, her relationship with the Mossad and that of her children, Sophie Ben-Dor, Irit Peleg and Shai Cohen, unraveled. In the final episode of The Spy, Cohen's brother Maurice, a Mossad analyst, confronts him after discovering he is the secret Agent 88 in Damascus. they let him see fortification and the bunkers, weapon concentrated in the area, and their offensive plans.l lieutenant Zaher Al-Din took Eli to the El Hama military camp, where large quantities of new weapons had been stored. Eli Cohenbecame certain that Israel had spied in the Syrian government. Instead, he joined the Egyptian merchant marine and was involved in a number of scams, which resulted in his arrest by the Egyptian secret service in 1952. She was told he would be completely safe, and she believed that until his capture in 1965. In the footsteps of a spy: Exploring the Golan's Eli Cohen Trail [8], Cohen was found guilty of espionage by a military tribunal and sentenced to death under martial law. He was sent to Argentina, where he took on the guise of a businessman, scion of a Syrian family. Look after them, raise them up and educate them well, and don't deprive them or yourself of anythingDo what you must, don't deprive the children of a father. The Ba'athist coup and Eli Cohen's role. He says the spies wanted him to try and talk to his father's close friends or provide insight. Before he was executed, Cohen met with a rabbi, as per his request, and sent his wife a letter. [26], Monthir Maosily, the former bureau chief of Hafez Al-Assad, claimed in August 2008 that the Syrians had buried him three times to stop the remains from being taken back to Israel via a special operation. The following year, Syria found out about Cohen by tracing his intelligence transmissions to Israel. children: Irit Cohen, Shai Cohen, Sophie Cohen, place of death: Al Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria, See the events in life of Eli Cohen in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubQ6b-9OewI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ9cUmvkgmg. Cohens contacts, nurtured through a string of lavish dinner parties, social occasions, and friendships with those in high places, led to invitations to visit Damascus and to set up a business venture there. In 1949, his parents and three brothers moved to Israel while Eli remained in Egypt to coordinate Jewish and Zionist activities there. Offended, he resigned from military counterintelligence and took up a clerical job in a Tel Aviv insurance office. Because of that, perhaps he just tired of the whole charade. Still, the memory of those domestic joys sustains Cohen while hes away. He had been repeatedly interrogated and tortured. To establish his cover, Cohen moved to Buenos Aires in 1961. At the end of 1961, Syria dissolved its union with Egypt, which had lasted a mere three years. At Kfar Habad, on July 29, 1977, at the joint Bar Mitzvah for 100 fatherless boys, in the presence of Prime Minister. The saga of Eli Cohen, Israel's greatest spy - San Diego Jewish World Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur, Defense Minister Ezer Weizmann, and many Mossad officials attended Eli's son's bar mitzvah in 1977. How is it that you dare allow a stranger to read a classified document? he angrily asked Saif. His new friends introduced Eli to top government officials, senior army officers, and leaders of the ruling party. With time he was taken even more into the confidence of the highest echelons of power. He lasted until just July that year when he resigned in protest of the Ba'ath military committee executing dissenting rivals who tried to stage a coup for power. He was convicted in a trial without a defense and sentenced to death. At the beginning of the 1956 War, when Israel occupied the Sinai, Eli Cohen was detained by the Egyptian authorities, and was expelled from Egypt along with the remainder of Alexandrian Jews at the end of the war. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. When the Baath took power in 1963, Eli was firmly entrenched in Syrian high society. Eli's wife Nadia, played by Hadar Ratzon Rotem, has to deal with raising two children without her husband, who disappears for up to a year at a time without being allowed to tell her what he's actually doing or even where he is.