Said Jawish Interview Part 3: the days after Eli Cohen’s capture

On January 1965, Said Jawish and his team captured Israeli spy Eli Cohen in Damascus after tracking him to his apartment. Cohen, who had masqueraded as a businessman, had spent months gathering intelligence for Mossad. Once the team found Cohen's transmitter and Morse key, he continued transmitting messages back to Israel, monitored by Jawish and his Signals Company 134. Cohen stayed in the apartment for six more days after his capture before the Mossad learned of the arrest.

Colonel Ahmad Suwaydani, head of the Intelligence Branch, arrived with Widad Bashir and First Lieutenant Mohammed Nassif. Suwaydani questioned Cohen about Adnan Tayyara, the head of the Israel Branch, who was away on a staff course at the time. Jawish agreed to cooperate with Cohen, keeping him in the apartment and deciphering the code. Cohen's visits to the Staff College were brief, and the team remained in the apartment to decipher Cohen's messages.

One day, Lt. Khalil Zahreddine and a heavyset man named George Seif arrived at the apartment, claiming to be Cohen's relatives. Jawish ordered Cohen to open the door, claiming he had a headache and was asleep. A short while later, Lt. Khalil approached Jawish, cocking a pistol as they spoke. Jawish had warned Cohen not to leave the apartment, as the order was to shoot anyone attempting to escape.