Fede – Dov Hoz
"Dov Hoz" sailed to Israel with the "Eliyahu Golomb" on May 8th 1946, with 675 immigrants on board.
The "Dov Hoz" Haapala ship (named after one of the pathfinders of the Labor party and the Hagana, who died in a car accident in December 1940) was prepared for its departure to Israel in La Spezia port, Italy, with help from Moshe Rabinovitch (Carmeli) and Yochanan Zaid. The ship commander was Palyam member Eliezer Tal. The 'Gidoni' was Gershon Etsion.
"Dov Hoz" was scheduled to sail on its first mission in April 1946, together with the "Eliyahu Golomb" Haapala ship. However, the British authorities discovered the preparations and took La Spezia port under siege to prevent its departure. Shalhevet Frayer and Yisrael Liebertovsky, who organized the immigrant convoy, were arrested. In response to the British actions, the immigrants declared a hunger strike that lasted three days and won great worldwide recognition in the media. The strike was led by Yehuda Arazi, organizer of 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' activities in Italy at that time. Following the intervention of political parties in Italy and Britain, the British government finally enabled the immigrants to travel to Israel, deducting their numbers from the monthly quota of certificates (immigration papers.)
"Dov Hoz" sailed to Israel with the "Eliyahu Golomb" on May 8th 1946, with 675 immigrants on board. Before the overt departure, an impressive ceremony took place at the port, which marked the immigrants' triumph in the willful struggle during the "La Spezia" affair.
"Dov Hoz" reached Haifa port on May 13th, followed by two British destroyers. As promised, the immigrants were freely admitted into the country.
"Dov Hoz" was scheduled to sail on its first mission in April 1946, together with the "Eliyahu Golomb" Haapala ship. However, the British authorities discovered the preparations and took La Spezia port under siege to prevent its departure. Shalhevet Frayer and Yisrael Liebertovsky, who organized the immigrant convoy, were arrested. In response to the British actions, the immigrants declared a hunger strike that lasted three days and won great worldwide recognition in the media. The strike was led by Yehuda Arazi, organizer of 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' activities in Italy at that time. Following the intervention of political parties in Italy and Britain, the British government finally enabled the immigrants to travel to Israel, deducting their numbers from the monthly quota of certificates (immigration papers.)
"Dov Hoz" sailed to Israel with the "Eliyahu Golomb" on May 8th 1946, with 675 immigrants on board. Before the overt departure, an impressive ceremony took place at the port, which marked the immigrants' triumph in the willful struggle during the "La Spezia" affair.
"Dov Hoz" reached Haifa port on May 13th, followed by two British destroyers. As promised, the immigrants were freely admitted into the country.