The authorities disclosed today that the Israeli who was fatally shot by a suspected Arab terrorist on a street in Madrid last Friday was an undercover agent employed by the government’s security services and that his real name was Baruch Cohen. The victim, whose body has been flown back to Israel for burial, was originally identified as Moshe Hannan Yishai and was described as a tourist. Funeral services will be held tomorrow.
The circumstances of the Madrid shooting gave rise to the belief that it was the latest incident in a running battle between Arab terrorists and Israeli counter-terrorists which has been going on in various European capitals during recent months. Today’s disclosure of the victim’s true identity appeared to confirm that belief.
Cohen, born in Haifa in 1936 and educated there, joined Kibbutz Ein Harod in 1952 and the Nahal, para-military settlement corps, in 1953. He joined the government service in 1959 and was employed in the Foreign Ministry and in the security-services. Between July 1970 and Dec. 1972 he was a member of the Israel Embassy staff in Brussels.
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