Kawther Salam's Diary 

Hell Made in Israel (15/7/02)

The Daily Life of Kawther Salam

I Send Colonel Amnon Cohen the final request to grant me a travel permit to access through Ben Gurion Airport for human consideration.

I know Colonel Cohen well, and he knows me too. As an Israeli person I don't have any problem with him. As a journalist I don't have good relationship with him. He is representing the government, and I'm raising the Palestinians poor voices in the media. The way I used to criticized his officer, caused me a lot of problem with Cohen!!

This is the only problem I have with the Governmental Israeli officers. Colonel Cohen, is the same like all the governmental officers, they don't like journalists.

Journalists always used to cause problems for everybody!! I know what I'm doing and what I was did to all of these officers. As much as I caused troubles for them, they called me the face of evil stories and the trouble maker!!

Under all of these circumstances and problems I caused for Colonel Cohen and his officers through my work in the newspaper, I never found difficulties to talk or to pass a massage for him!!

Many times I succeeded, and many times he took in his consideration the human stories, and tried to help as much as he can.

In 2000, Colonel Cohen helped to solve Halemeh Al-Adrah's Problem. Halemeh was suffered of Cancer, she was faced by death each moment. Her only dream was to see her son " Omar " for a while.

Omar Al Adrarah was a hopeless case " Menoah Shabak " for many years. He was prohibited return home in Beny Neam, distract of Hebron after he lost the right of renewing his permit return during 1997!! He was a member of the Palestinians wing opposition movement, " Popular Committee " in Jordan. He don't have a Palestinian ID. either.

When I heard about the story, and I visited the mother home. She was completely dying of cancer, and the poverty too!! The woman was laying on a cloven old mattress on the floor. Her room was very small and dark without windows. It was build of soil and straws. Where I turned my face, I saw the poverty marks.

I tried to find one small space to sit on the floor and talk. The floor was full of dust, garbage and fly's!! It was very difficult to share the woman sitting on the floor, but I obliged to do it!!

I heard a weak and painful voice with tear eyes. The woman repeated one word " Omar " , Omar.... I asked to be quiet, and to response to me. She collected the cancer breathing, looked at me, I promised to raise her voice.

Actually, it was a painful story that moved me deeply. I called the Colonel Amnon Cohen, I told him the full details. He was moved the same like me, and he promise to help and grant " Omar " three months permit to visit to his mother if I promise him to send him back to Jordan.

I gave Cohen a word and promise. Omar was arrived Alembi bridge, holding his permit and dreaming to see his mother before death. The Intelligence Shabak bridge signed with the red color on his permit and passport " Prohibited Enter " !! Omar was send back to Jordan. His family called me, and I called Amnon Cohen.

I was very angry of what happened. Colonel Cohen wasn't happy of what happened too!! He told me to phone the man and aske him to come back again to Alembi Bridge with his permit and passport signature " Prohibited Shabak " .

I was wondering, how it comes, the Jordanian will not allow Omar to return, the Shabak will...!! But the colonel confirmed to help the man to return. It was a miracle, Omar was allowed to access the bridge with a special respect!!