Israel Denies Knowledge of Return of Remains of Eli Cohen Hy”d

Government officials in Yerushalayim said on Thursday that they have “no information concerning the intention of any Arab group to return the remains of Eli Cohen, Hy”d, for burial in Israel.

The statement came in response to reports in the Arab media on Wednesday saying that Syrian opposition groups would soon be returning Cohen’s body. The report, which appeared in Lebanese media and was picked up by other outlets, could not be independently confirmed.

The broadcasting station LBC on Monday published a video of the execution, which it said was obtained from the same group which says it knows the location of the grave and will return the body.

The opposition group in question reportedly promised to reveal more information about the matter in the coming days.

Cohen was executed in Damascus in 1965 after being arrested on charges of spying for Israel.

Eli Cohen’s widow Nadia Cohen said that she did not believe the report, but that if it were true, “this would be a true miracle, but I am afraid they are playing with our feelings and continuing to torment us. I am still in shock. There were many requests made to the Syrians to return Eli’s remains [which were not answered], such that my initial reaction is that the report is simply unreliable.”