“I want to bring this battle to an end after 45 years. I do not want to leave this for my children” stated Mrs. Cohen, the widow of convicted spy Eli Cohen, who was found guilty of spying for Israel and hanged in Damascus. His remains have yet to be released by the Syrian for kvura in Israel.
Mossad agent Cohen was known as “Our Man in Damascus”, beginning his undercover work on behalf of Israel in Syria in 1961, posing as a prominent businessman, but he was apprehended in January 1965. He was hanged on May 18th, at the age of 41. To date, Syria has refused to cooperate, insisting the return of Cohen’s remains will only be addressed as part of a peace agreement with Israel.
Streets and schools are named in his memory in Israel, but his widow wants to see him brought to a kever yisrael while she is alive. In Nazareth Illit, a special rally was held alongside a monument erected in his memory, with the mayor making an appeal to the Syrians. Mrs. Cohen praised the gesture, adding it is the only city that has undertaken such a major step on her late husband’s behalf.
She spoke of her ongoing battle, adding the “Syrians are indeed difficult, and we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel” yet expressing her hope, that she will succeed in her mission to remove this burden from the shoulders of her children.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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2 Responses
I was an American Yeshiva Bochur learning in Mir when Eli was discovered and hung. We felt it as a personal tragedy and I think about it again and again whenever I see a street named in his honor or read an article.
I’m assuming that Mrs. Cohen has remained an Agunah all these years.
His mesiras nefesh for all of us must not be forgotton.
Y’hi zichro boruch
We all pray that her wishes be granted.