Northland – Jewish State
Jewish State sailed from Burgas Port in Bulgaria on September 26th 1947, with 2,664 immigrants on board.
The "Jewish State" Haapala ship (named after the book written by the founder of the Zionist Movement, Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl) prepared by its escorts to depart for Israel from Bayonne port in western France. The ship was used as an armed ice-breaker in the U.S Marines Corps in the Northern Sea during WWII. The captains of the ship were Morgan Mitchell and May Arnik -Schrier (Americans.) The ship commander was Palyam member, Yosef Almog. The 'Gidonim' were Aharon Keller (Michaeli) and Pitchiya Faig. Additional escorts were Palyam members Avraham Mirsky (Miron) and Shmuel Hochman (Haram.)
The "Jewish State" sailed from Burgas Port in Bulgaria on September 26th 1947, with 2,664 immigrants on board. The ship was scheduled to absorb en route the immigrants of the ship "Geula," which had left simultaneously. But the plan was cancelled due to over crowdedness and the British destroyer that tailed them as they left the Dardanelles peninsula. Extensive preparations were made on board the "Jewish State" towards the anticipated confrontation with the British. The ship decks were entrenched with barbed-wire, and central points were prepared with "weapons" such as: Stones, screws, metal pieces and cans, as well as a force of 400 people armed with sticks.
On October 2nd, "Geula" and "Jewish State" approached the country's shores. 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ ordered both ships to refrain from showing any active resistance, for fear of a harsh response from the British, and in lieu of the difficult security situation that prevailed in Israel.
This order actually reflected the change in policy among organizers of the Haapala resistance, who from then on conducted only passive, symbolic resistance. The "Jewish State" turned towards Tel-Aviv, while "Geula" headed towards Haifa, followed by four destroyers. A few hours later, the British ordered "Jewish State" to stop, and when it didn't, two destroyers showered it with teargas bombs.
Later on, one of the destroyers tryed to butte against the side of the immigrant ship, but the ship itself butted the destroyer. And then, a takeover crew captured it despite the resistance (which refuted 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet's order.) The ship was towed to Haifa port and entered it the next day.
The immigrants waited three days in the port before being transported on deportation ships to Dekalia detention camp in Cyprus. Two of the escorts, four immigrants and some of the foreign crew hid in a 'Slik' on board the ship, and were rescued a few hours later by a Palyam squad disguised as "Haogen" Company cleaners. The remaining escorts intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them.
The "Jewish State" sailed from Burgas Port in Bulgaria on September 26th 1947, with 2,664 immigrants on board. The ship was scheduled to absorb en route the immigrants of the ship "Geula," which had left simultaneously. But the plan was cancelled due to over crowdedness and the British destroyer that tailed them as they left the Dardanelles peninsula. Extensive preparations were made on board the "Jewish State" towards the anticipated confrontation with the British. The ship decks were entrenched with barbed-wire, and central points were prepared with "weapons" such as: Stones, screws, metal pieces and cans, as well as a force of 400 people armed with sticks.
On October 2nd, "Geula" and "Jewish State" approached the country's shores. 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ ordered both ships to refrain from showing any active resistance, for fear of a harsh response from the British, and in lieu of the difficult security situation that prevailed in Israel.
This order actually reflected the change in policy among organizers of the Haapala resistance, who from then on conducted only passive, symbolic resistance. The "Jewish State" turned towards Tel-Aviv, while "Geula" headed towards Haifa, followed by four destroyers. A few hours later, the British ordered "Jewish State" to stop, and when it didn't, two destroyers showered it with teargas bombs.
Later on, one of the destroyers tryed to butte against the side of the immigrant ship, but the ship itself butted the destroyer. And then, a takeover crew captured it despite the resistance (which refuted 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet's order.) The ship was towed to Haifa port and entered it the next day.
The immigrants waited three days in the port before being transported on deportation ships to Dekalia detention camp in Cyprus. Two of the escorts, four immigrants and some of the foreign crew hid in a 'Slik' on board the ship, and were rescued a few hours later by a Palyam squad disguised as "Haogen" Company cleaners. The remaining escorts intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them.