Knesset Israel
"Knesset Israel" sailed from Bakar port on November 5th 1946, with 3,445 immigrants on board.
The Haapala (illegal immigration) ship, "Knesset Israel" (named after the independent organization of the Jewish Yishuv in Israel), was prepared for the departure to Israel at the Bakar port in Yugoslavia by Avraham Govsky and Binyamin Yerushalmi, who were assisted by 300 German war prisoners sent on this mission by the Yugoslavian government. The local authorities were highly sympathetic towards the Haapala endeavor; the Yugoslavian President, Josef Tito, even visited the port during the preparations. The original name of the ship was "The Jewish Resistance Movement". But its name was changed a day before arriving in Israel to: "Knesset Israel". Due to the legal hearings held at that time about the legality of deporting immigrants to Cyprus, Moshe Shertok (Sharet) and Golda Meirson (Meir), heads of the Political Department at the Jewish Agency, compelled the head of 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet" (the secret organization responsible for Illegal immigration of Jews to Palestine from 1938 to 1948) Shaul Meirov (Avigur), to chose a more moderate name that was less provocative to the British.
The "Knesset Israel" commanders were Palyam members Binyamin Yerushalmi (who participated in the first part of the voyage) and Yosef Hamburger (Harel) . The 'Gidoni' (wireless operator) was Yoash (Chato) Zidon. An additional escort was Palyam member Reuven Hirsch (Yatir). Alongside the team of escorts, a staff HQ was established that included representatives from the various immigrants' movements, headed by a representative of the 'Zionist Youth" movement, Yitzhak Herzig (Artsi.)
"Knesset Israel" was accompanied by a smaller Haapala ship named "Abba Berdizhev." That ship was scheduled to transfer its immigrants onto "Knesset Israel" and transport the foreign crews back to Europe, preventing both ships and crews from falling into British hands.
"Knesset Israel" had been previously used to transport cargo through rivers, and escorted the passage of the U.S Marines through the Atlantic Ocean during WWII. On the eve of the voyage, the Yugoslavians organized a lively farewell ceremony with a band, flags, and participation of local residents. "Knesset Israel" and "Abba Berdizhev" sailed from Bakar port on November 5th 1946. The first had 3,445 immigrants on board, and the latter had 400.
Four days later, both ships were caught in a bad storm in the Adriatic Sea. The engine of the "Abba Berdizhev" failed; it entered a naval minefield, was swept against the rocks and crashed. All its immigrants were transferred onto "Knesset Israel," which now had 3,845 immigrants. After a short stop to re-organize, the ship continued its mission on November 16th. On November 21st, near Sirina Island, "Knesset Israel" transferred Binyamin Yerushalmi and all the foreign crew, except for four seamen, to a boat that left from Piraeus port. From that point till it reached the shores of Mandatory Palestine, the ship was operated by an immigrant crew that was trained on the way. They were headed by Reuven Hirsch, who replaced the Greek captain; Yosef Hamburger, who commanded the ship and dealt with organizing the resistance; and Yoash Zidon, who was in charge of communication and helped solve a range of technical problems in weapon production.
The "Knesset Israel" commanders were Palyam members Binyamin Yerushalmi (who participated in the first part of the voyage) and Yosef Hamburger (Harel) . The 'Gidoni' (wireless operator) was Yoash (Chato) Zidon. An additional escort was Palyam member Reuven Hirsch (Yatir). Alongside the team of escorts, a staff HQ was established that included representatives from the various immigrants' movements, headed by a representative of the 'Zionist Youth" movement, Yitzhak Herzig (Artsi.)
"Knesset Israel" was accompanied by a smaller Haapala ship named "Abba Berdizhev." That ship was scheduled to transfer its immigrants onto "Knesset Israel" and transport the foreign crews back to Europe, preventing both ships and crews from falling into British hands.
"Knesset Israel" had been previously used to transport cargo through rivers, and escorted the passage of the U.S Marines through the Atlantic Ocean during WWII. On the eve of the voyage, the Yugoslavians organized a lively farewell ceremony with a band, flags, and participation of local residents. "Knesset Israel" and "Abba Berdizhev" sailed from Bakar port on November 5th 1946. The first had 3,445 immigrants on board, and the latter had 400.
Four days later, both ships were caught in a bad storm in the Adriatic Sea. The engine of the "Abba Berdizhev" failed; it entered a naval minefield, was swept against the rocks and crashed. All its immigrants were transferred onto "Knesset Israel," which now had 3,845 immigrants. After a short stop to re-organize, the ship continued its mission on November 16th. On November 21st, near Sirina Island, "Knesset Israel" transferred Binyamin Yerushalmi and all the foreign crew, except for four seamen, to a boat that left from Piraeus port. From that point till it reached the shores of Mandatory Palestine, the ship was operated by an immigrant crew that was trained on the way. They were headed by Reuven Hirsch, who replaced the Greek captain; Yosef Hamburger, who commanded the ship and dealt with organizing the resistance; and Yoash Zidon, who was in charge of communication and helped solve a range of technical problems in weapon production.