Gian Paolo – Shahr-Yeshuv
"Shahr-Yeshuv" sailed from Balasko port near Genoa, Italy, on April 7th 1947, with 617 immigrants on board.
"Shahr-Yeshuv" was the last ship organized by Yehuda Arazi, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' envoy in Italy. The ship, which had previously been used to transport cargo along the Turkish shores, was prepared to depart for Israel from Porto Venero, Italy. The ship commander was Palyam member, Menachem Cohen, and the 'Gidoni' was Ovad Sadeh. The escort, Yitzhak Landauer, participated in the first part of the voyage.
"Shahr-Yeshuv" sailed from Balasko port near Genoa, Italy, on April 7th 1947, with 617 immigrants on board. The person responsible for embarking the immigrants was Palyam member, Eliezer Klein (Tal.) "Shahr-Yeshuv" was scheduled to transfer its immigrants onto the "Herzl" Haapala ship at by the Turkish shores; but the transfer was cancelled due to communication problems on the "Herzl." The ship continued towards Israel. During its voyage (on April17th), the 151 immigrants of the "Albertina" ship, headed by David Ben-Horin, were transferred onto "Shahr-Yeshuv." There were now 768 immigrants in total on the "Shahr-Yeshuv." Ben-Horin continued to Israel with "Shahr-Yeshuv," and Yitzhak Landauer returned to Italy on the "Albertina."
On April 21st, a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted "Shahr-Yeshuv." Later on, four destroyers followed the ship and forced it to sail towards Haifa. The security situation in Israel was in decline in April, following the hanging of the Etsel warriors and the bloodshed on board the "Herzl" ship. Therefore, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ instructed the commander of "Shahr-Yeshuv" to limit the immigrant's resistance to a passive one, for fear of further casualties. Contrary to the instructions, Menachem Cohen organized the immigrants for a forceful resistance. The British were forced to use water hoses and tear gas to subdue the immigrants when they took over the ship on April 23rd. When the confrontation was over, the immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Life Guard" and the "Empire Comfort" deportation ships, and were taken to detention camp No.67 in Cyprus. The escorts hid in a 'Slik' in the water tank on board the ship, and were rescued the following day by a cleaner from "Haogen" company.
"Shahr-Yeshuv" sailed from Balasko port near Genoa, Italy, on April 7th 1947, with 617 immigrants on board. The person responsible for embarking the immigrants was Palyam member, Eliezer Klein (Tal.) "Shahr-Yeshuv" was scheduled to transfer its immigrants onto the "Herzl" Haapala ship at by the Turkish shores; but the transfer was cancelled due to communication problems on the "Herzl." The ship continued towards Israel. During its voyage (on April17th), the 151 immigrants of the "Albertina" ship, headed by David Ben-Horin, were transferred onto "Shahr-Yeshuv." There were now 768 immigrants in total on the "Shahr-Yeshuv." Ben-Horin continued to Israel with "Shahr-Yeshuv," and Yitzhak Landauer returned to Italy on the "Albertina."
On April 21st, a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted "Shahr-Yeshuv." Later on, four destroyers followed the ship and forced it to sail towards Haifa. The security situation in Israel was in decline in April, following the hanging of the Etsel warriors and the bloodshed on board the "Herzl" ship. Therefore, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ instructed the commander of "Shahr-Yeshuv" to limit the immigrant's resistance to a passive one, for fear of further casualties. Contrary to the instructions, Menachem Cohen organized the immigrants for a forceful resistance. The British were forced to use water hoses and tear gas to subdue the immigrants when they took over the ship on April 23rd. When the confrontation was over, the immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Life Guard" and the "Empire Comfort" deportation ships, and were taken to detention camp No.67 in Cyprus. The escorts hid in a 'Slik' in the water tank on board the ship, and were rescued the following day by a cleaner from "Haogen" company.