Chapter III - On the eve of war

Summary

Mossad – “the maritime department of Hagana”

The effectiveness of Aliyah Bet was dependent on the organizational efficiency of the movement. Towards the end of 1938, upon the initiative of Hagana and with the blessing of the Jewish Agency, Mossad le'Aliyah Bet (literally the Institute of B Immigration and in English also as the Organization for Illegal Immigration) was created, with its headquarters in Paris. In effect it was an arm of Hagana and was to deal with all matters connected with the illegal transfer of immigrants (such as the purchase of ships and their conversion for the needs of transportation, the hiring of crews, obtainment of finances, the selection and enlisting of immigrants, obtaining travel documents, the safe arrival at destination, etc.). At its head was Shaul Meirov (Avigur), one of the founders of Hagana and a man without whom Aliyah Bet would not have been what it was. Politically and personally linked to the leaders of Yishuv (Eliyahu Golomb and Moshe Shertok were his brothers-in-law) he was of a more practical than political disposition and was at his best in secret matters requiring discretion. He had a wide range of experience during his long years of service within the structures of Hagana.

Thanks to him Mossad (from the Hebrew – ‘institute’; it not to be confused with the Israeli secret service bearing the same name, which was created in 1951) was later to play a key role in the organization of illegal immigration to Palestine.