Historical Dictionary of Israeli Intelligence

1968); Zvi Zamir(1968–1974); Yitzhak Hofi(1974–1982); Nahum

Admoni(1982–1990); Shabtai Shavit(1990–1996); Danny Yatom

(1996–1998); Efraim Halevy (1998–2003); and Meir Dagan, who as-

sumed the office in 2003 and is still serving in it. See also MOSSAD

LE’ALIYAH BETH and appendix B.

MOSSAD LE’ALIYAH BETH. The term Aliyah Beth (literally

“B-immigration”) refers to the organized illegal entry of Jews into

Palestine under the British Mandate in direct defiance of the British

government’s restrictions on Jewish immigration. Legal immigration

was termed Aliyah Aleph(“A-immigration”). In the early 1920s,

British authorities openly engaged themselves in helping to establish

a Jewish state in Palestine. However, they began withdrawing their

support for the Jews in response to strong Arab pressure. When

Britain imposed strict quotas on Jewish immigration in the early

1930s, Zionist groups responded with a policy to encourage illegal

immigrants, or ma’apilim,a term referring to their upward struggle.

Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, approximately

530,000 immigrants arrived in Palestine, one-quarter of whom

reached the shores clandestinely through Aliyah Beth by way of the

sea. The first ship of illegal immigrants reached Palestine in 1934. At

that time, the Jewish Agency leadership did not approve of illegal

methods of immigration. However, by 1939 it had become evident to

David Ben-Gurion that Aliyah Beth was the only real way for Jews

to enter Palestine. The Mossad Le’Aliyah Beth—the official Aliyah

Beth organization—was then created.

During World War II, under the direction of Shaul Avigur

(1939–1948), Aliyah Beth became one of the main methods used for

rescuing Jews. However, the efforts of the Mossad Le’Aliyah Beth

were obstructed by a variety of problems, including restricted ship

use, lack of funds, unsafe conditions, and the continuing British

blockade of Palestine. Eventually in 1942 the entire operation of the

Mossad Le’Aliyah Beth was suspended until it resumed operations in

1944, upon the rude awakening of the Jews of Palestine to the extent

of the “Final Solution.”

After the war, Aliyah Beth became the focus of Zionist activity,

turning the world’s attention to the plight of the Holocaust survivors

and their attempts to immigrate to a Jewish state. Tens of thousands

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