San Michele – Mishmar Haemek
"Mishmar Haemek" sailed from La Ciotat port in France on April 14th 1948, with 782 immigrants on board.
The Haapala ship, "Mishmar Haemek" (named after kibbutz Mishmar Haemek, which drove away the Arab "rescue force" after a grueling battle in early April 1948) prepared to depart fro Israel from Napoli port in Italy. The ship was previously used for transporting food cargo. The ship commander was Palyam member, David Izin. 'Gidonim' – Benny Berkovitch and Yocheved Wohel. Another escort was the Jewish-American volunteer, Teddy Rosenfeld.
"Mishmar Haemek" sailed from La Ciotat port in France on April 14th 1948, with 782 immigrants on board. About a hundred miles away from Cyprus, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ ordered the ship to meet with the "Nachshon" ship, which was delayed due to technical difficulties near the island of Crete, and absorb its immigrants. The meeting never took place; a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted "Mishmar Haemek" and a British destroyer began to follow it. "Mishmar Haemek" sailed towards Haifa. A British force took over the ship before it entered the port on April 24th. The crew shut down the engines and "Mishmar Haemek" was towed to Haifa port. The immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Rival" deportation ship, and were taken to detention in Cyprus. Teddy Rosenberg was identified by the British and was sentenced for two months. The remaining escorts intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them.
"Mishmar Haemek" sailed from La Ciotat port in France on April 14th 1948, with 782 immigrants on board. About a hundred miles away from Cyprus, 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ ordered the ship to meet with the "Nachshon" ship, which was delayed due to technical difficulties near the island of Crete, and absorb its immigrants. The meeting never took place; a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted "Mishmar Haemek" and a British destroyer began to follow it. "Mishmar Haemek" sailed towards Haifa. A British force took over the ship before it entered the port on April 24th. The crew shut down the engines and "Mishmar Haemek" was towed to Haifa port. The immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Rival" deportation ship, and were taken to detention in Cyprus. Teddy Rosenberg was identified by the British and was sentenced for two months. The remaining escorts intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them.