Mossad Le'aliyah Bet
Encyclopedia
The Mossad LeAliyah Bet was a branch of the Haganah
in the British Mandate of Palestine that operated to facilitate Jewish immigration to Palestine
in violation of unilateral British restrictions. It operated from 1938 until the founding of the State of Israel
in 1948. The name's origin is a play on words; the Yishuv
referred to legal immigration as "Aliyah Alef", whilst illegal immigration was referred to as "Aliyah Bet".
, the British government announced in (what became known as) the 1939 White Paper that it was to cease permitting Jewish migration to Palestine and at that point the main body of Zionism decided to cease conforming with British regulations.
Even though the Mossad LeAliyah Bet was officially founded on 29 April 1939, it had begun operating during 1938. Headed by Shaul Avigur
, the Mossad was founded on the basis of the Ha'apala
movement. Its activity was initially centred in Athens
and later on its centre moved to Paris
. The movement's leadership was drawn from both revisionist and main stream Zionist activists.
In the first years after it was created, the Mossad achieved a certain measure of success. Operating primarily through the sea, in 50 cruises it was able to bring as many as 20,000 Jewish immigrants to Palestine. When World War II
broke, the Mossad became virtually paralyzed and its activities were only renewed by August 1945.
Since that time and until the founding of Israel, the Mossad was able to bring an additional 64 ships with over 70,000 Jewish immigrants (many of whom were Holocaust survivors). In addition to the sea, although in a much smaller scale, the Mossad also brought immigrants via land, from the Arab world
. Overall, the Mossad was able to bring about 100,000 Jews into what was to become the State of Israel.
The most famous ship used by the Mossad was Exodus
, which brought 4,554 Holocaust survivors. With the founding of Israel, the Mossad served as a basis for the agency Lishkat Hakesher
(Liaison Bureau), codenamed Nativ
(נתיב "Path"), created in 1953 and also headed by Meirov, which brought Jews from Soviet bloc, the Arab world, and other countries.
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
in the British Mandate of Palestine that operated to facilitate Jewish immigration to Palestine
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
in violation of unilateral British restrictions. It operated from 1938 until the founding of the State of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1948. The name's origin is a play on words; the Yishuv
Yishuv
The Yishuv or Ha-Yishuv is the term referring to the body of Jewish residents in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel...
referred to legal immigration as "Aliyah Alef", whilst illegal immigration was referred to as "Aliyah Bet".
Background
In late 1938, on the eve of KristallnachtKristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
, the British government announced in (what became known as) the 1939 White Paper that it was to cease permitting Jewish migration to Palestine and at that point the main body of Zionism decided to cease conforming with British regulations.
Even though the Mossad LeAliyah Bet was officially founded on 29 April 1939, it had begun operating during 1938. Headed by Shaul Avigur
Shaul Avigur
Shaul Avigur was a founder of the Israeli Intelligence Community.-Biography:Avigur was born in Dvinsk under the name Saul Meyeroff , but when his son Gur Meyeroff was killed in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, he changed it to Avigur, meaning "Father of Gur"...
, the Mossad was founded on the basis of the Ha'apala
Ha'apala
Aliyah Bet |bet]] being the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet) was the code name given to illegal immigration by Jews to the British Mandate for Palestine in violation of British White Paper of 1939 restrictions, in the years 1934-1948. In modern day Israel it has also been called by the Hebrew...
movement. Its activity was initially centred in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and later on its centre moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The movement's leadership was drawn from both revisionist and main stream Zionist activists.
In the first years after it was created, the Mossad achieved a certain measure of success. Operating primarily through the sea, in 50 cruises it was able to bring as many as 20,000 Jewish immigrants to Palestine. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke, the Mossad became virtually paralyzed and its activities were only renewed by August 1945.
Since that time and until the founding of Israel, the Mossad was able to bring an additional 64 ships with over 70,000 Jewish immigrants (many of whom were Holocaust survivors). In addition to the sea, although in a much smaller scale, the Mossad also brought immigrants via land, from the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. Overall, the Mossad was able to bring about 100,000 Jews into what was to become the State of Israel.
The most famous ship used by the Mossad was Exodus
Exodus (ship)
Exodus 1947 was a ship that carried Jewish emigrants, that left France on July 11, 1947, with the intent of taking its passengers to the British mandate for Palestine. Most of the emigrants were Holocaust survivor refugees, who had no legal immigration certificates to Palestine...
, which brought 4,554 Holocaust survivors. With the founding of Israel, the Mossad served as a basis for the agency Lishkat Hakesher
Lishkat Hakesher
Nativ or officially Lishkat Hakesher or The Liaison Bureau, is an Israeli liaison organization that maintained contact with Jews living in the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War and encouraged aliyah, or immigration to Israel....
(Liaison Bureau), codenamed Nativ
Lishkat Hakesher
Nativ or officially Lishkat Hakesher or The Liaison Bureau, is an Israeli liaison organization that maintained contact with Jews living in the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War and encouraged aliyah, or immigration to Israel....
(נתיב "Path"), created in 1953 and also headed by Meirov, which brought Jews from Soviet bloc, the Arab world, and other countries.