Yolande Harmer: Difference between revisions
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The Swedish [[ambassador]] to Egypt, [[Widar Bagge]], fell in love with the beautiful spy, and she was able to sway him to sympathize with the [[Zionism|Zionist]] struggle for self-determination and the freedom of the Jewish people. Eli Peleg, a [[Yishuv]] emissary in Cairo, reported home about Yolande's successes with Bagge: {{quote|Several months ago he was indifferent to our cause, but today he is an enthusiastic Zionist.<ref name="Secret Wars"/>}} |
The Swedish [[ambassador]] to Egypt, [[Widar Bagge]], fell in love with the beautiful spy, and she was able to sway him to sympathize with the [[Zionism|Zionist]] struggle for self-determination and the freedom of the Jewish people. Eli Peleg, a [[Yishuv]] emissary in Cairo, reported home about Yolande's successes with Bagge: {{quote|Several months ago he was indifferent to our cause, but today he is an enthusiastic Zionist.<ref name="Secret Wars"/>}} |
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Thanks to her contacts Yolande was able to provide the Yishuv with important strategic information, such as the texts of resolutions adopted by the [[Arab League]] in 1947 and 1948, like the one in which they declared they "will sacrifice all the political and economic interest of the Arab world in order to save Arab Palestine."<ref name="The birth of Israel"/> She also learned about Arab military plans for the end of the [[British Mandate for Palestine]].<ref name=dictionary/> |
Thanks to her contacts Yolande was able to provide the Yishuv with important strategic information, such as the texts of resolutions adopted by the [[Arab League]] in 1947 and 1948, like the one in which they declared they "will sacrifice all the political and economic interest of the Arab world in order to save Arab Palestine."<ref name="The birth of Israel"/> She also learned about Arab military plans for the end of the [[British Mandate for Palestine]].<ref name=dictionary/> |
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In spite of many useful contacts, Yolande had difficulties delivering the information she was able to gather. She had a radio transmitter, but no-one to operate it for her. She sent the information using mail services via Europe or the USA, but precious time was often lost.<ref name="Secret Wars"/> During her work in Egypt she often risked not only her own life, but the life of her son as well.<ref name="Yolande an Unsung Heroine"/> |
In spite of many useful contacts, Yolande had difficulties delivering the information she was able to gather. She had a radio transmitter, but no-one to operate it for her. She sent the information using mail services via Europe or the USA, but precious time was often lost.<ref name="Secret Wars"/> During her work in Egypt she often risked not only her own life, but the life of her son as well.<ref name="Yolande an Unsung Heroine"/> |
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Revision as of 15:28, 5 September 2010
Yolande Harmer (Hebrew name Yolande Har-Mor, Hebrew: יולנדה הארמר, maiden name Yolande Gabai) was one of the most prominent Israeli spies in Egypt in 1948. She is thought of as "Israel's Mata Hari".[1][2][3]
Early life
Harmer was born in Alexandria, Egypt, to a Turkish-Jewish mother. She was married three times, the first when she was 17 years old. Her third husband, a wealthy South-African businessman, was killed in a plane crash. She had a son by him, Gilbert de Botton.[1][2]
Spying for Israel
Yolande was recruited by Moshe Sharett, the secretary of the Jewish Agency's political department, when he visited Egypt in 1945 or 1946. They met at a cocktail party.[1][2] At the time Yolande worked as a journalist, and was accepted in the high circles of Egypt society.[2] She was thus able to gather intelligence in King Farouk's court in Cairo.[4] She made many other important contacts including senior editors of Al-Ahram, the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper,[1] Tak ed-Din as-Sulh, the chief assistant of Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam, and Mahmoud Mahlouf, son of the Grand Mufti of Cairo.[2]
The Swedish ambassador to Egypt, Widar Bagge, fell in love with the beautiful spy, and she was able to sway him to sympathize with the Zionist struggle for self-determination and the freedom of the Jewish people. Eli Peleg, a Yishuv emissary in Cairo, reported home about Yolande's successes with Bagge:
Several months ago he was indifferent to our cause, but today he is an enthusiastic Zionist.[2]
Thanks to her contacts Yolande was able to provide the Yishuv with important strategic information, such as the texts of resolutions adopted by the Arab League in 1947 and 1948, like the one in which they declared they "will sacrifice all the political and economic interest of the Arab world in order to save Arab Palestine."[5] She also learned about Arab military plans for the end of the British Mandate for Palestine.[1] In spite of many useful contacts, Yolande had difficulties delivering the information she was able to gather. She had a radio transmitter, but no-one to operate it for her. She sent the information using mail services via Europe or the USA, but precious time was often lost.[2] During her work in Egypt she often risked not only her own life, but the life of her son as well.[6]
In July 1948 Yolande was arrested in Egypt. In jail she became ill. She was released in August, probably thanks to the intervention of some of her contacts. She was deported from Egypt and went to Paris.[2] In Paris she worked for the Middle East Department of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and in 1949 she became a key figure in that department. During her work in Paris she maintained her Egyptian contacts, providing Israel with valuable information.[2]
In 1950 she worked for Israel in Madrid. She died in 1959.[2][1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Geological Society of London (May 16, 2009). Historical dictionary of Israeli intelligence By Ephraim Kahana. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 110,111. ISBN 978-0810859531.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ian Black and Benny Morris (2007). Israel's Secret Wars: A History of Israel's Intelligence Services. Grove Press. pp. 61–64. ISBN 978-0802132864.
- ^ Teddy Kollek, Amos Kollek (1978). For Jerusalem. Random House. p. 57.
- ^ Ian Black and Benny Morris (2007). Israel's Secret Wars: A History of Israel's Intelligence Services. Grove Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0802132864.
- ^ Joseph Heller (April 25, 2003). The birth of Israel, 1945-1949: Ben-Gurion and his critics. University Press of Florida. p. 91-92. ISBN 978-0802132864.
- ^ "Yolande an Unsung Heroine". wolmandan.com.