The Israeli spy service, Mossad, is well-known for carrying out audacious and covert operations. Once again demonstrating the agency’s potent capabilities are the recent explosives in Lebanon that have claimed 32 lives and are purportedly connected to Israel via the use of remotely triggered pagers and walkie-talkies.
Mossad’s secret operations: A Cinematic Legacy
Several directors have also been influenced to adapt these compelling tales for the big screen by Mossad’s actual activities. Based on real-life Mossad missions, the following TV shows and films exist:
Munich (2005)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Munich tells the story of Avner Kaufman, a Mossad agent tasked with leading “Operation Wrath of God,” a mission to assassinate the Palestinian militants responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack. The film delves into the moral and emotional complexities of revenge and counter-terrorism.
Kidon (2011)
Loosely inspired by the 2010 assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai, Kidon blends spy action with comedy. It follows a Mossad team as they execute a high-stakes mission.
Operation Finale (2018)
Operation Finale recreates Mossad’s 1960 mission to capture Adolf Eichmann, a top architect of the Holocaust, in Argentina. The film follows Peter Malkin, the Mossad agent leading the mission to bring Eichmann to Israel for trial, shedding light on a pivotal moment in history.
The Angel (2018)
Based on the book The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel, this film focuses on Ashraf Marwan, an Egyptian diplomat who becomes a double agent for Mossad. Marwan’s intelligence proves crucial for Israel, particularly during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The Spy (2019 – Netflix series)
The Spy tells the true story of Eli Cohen, a Mossad agent who infiltrated Syrian high society in the 1960s. Posing as Kamel Amin Thaabet, Cohen gathered vital intelligence, helping Israel achieve victory in the 1967 Six-Day War. His mission, however, comes at a tragic cost when his cover is blown and he is captured.
The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)
This film is based on Operation Brothers, one of Mossad’s most daring humanitarian missions in the early 1980s. Israeli agents set up a fake diving resort on the Sudanese coast as a front to rescue Ethiopian Jews fleeing civil war and famine. The operation helped thousands of refugees escape to safety under the guise of tourism.
These films and series not only highlight Mossad’s tactical brilliance but also explore the personal and ethical dilemmas faced by its agents during these dangerous missions.