Monument for the "Haim Arlosoroff" Ship

The Story of “Ulua” in short: In 24 January 1947, the old ship, which had been bought in the US carried the name "Ulua". Left Trelleborg, Sweden where 650 holocaust survivors embarked on it. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean , the ship almost sank during a storm in the Biskaya Bay. It arrived in Metaponto, Italy, where it embarked 700 additional Holocaust survivors. Overloaded and crowded it continued its long journey (the longest of all illegal immigration ships to Mandatory Palestine), to Eretz Israel shore. Upon arrival of the Ship in the vicinity of the coast, it was detected by the British Navy, the commander of the operation, Lova Eliav, was ordered to surrender and to hand over all the immigrants to the British Navy. The Ship's commanders refused to comply and took a decision to strand the ship on the Bat-Galim beach, in spite of the presence of 5 British destroyers and other combat ships. The destroyers were trying to butt the ship and to embark soldiers on board, these were pushed back to the water by the immigrants. Eventually, on 28 Feb. 1947, 75 years ago, the Ship's captain Gad Hilb, succeeded to run aground on the Bat-Galim shore, hoping that the immigrants will jump overboard into the water and reach land. The plan was not successful: All the Ship immigrants and its crew were caught, arrested and deported to British detention camps in Cyprus. Only 18 months later, these immigrants were allowed to sail to Israel. For several years, the battered Ship remained stranded 100 meters off the beach, until 1953. Then, the upper part of the Ship was cut and scraped and the lower part was dismantled and sunken. The remains of the Ship are to be found in the very same place, 5 meters deep, slightly north-east to the casino and the Bat-Galim beach. e the story of the illegal immigrants and joining forces in preserving the "Haim Arlozoroff" legacy. Where we stand now In January of the current year (Jan 2022), the Haifa City Council approved the erection of the monument for “Haim Arlozoroff”. We are now in the process of planning and designing the monument and already have started the fund raising. We believe that this monument on the Bat-Galim promenade, opposite the remains of the Ship, will serve an utmost importance in commemorating the Holocaust survivors and preservation of the legacy of the illegal immigration. People will be inspired by the monument, perceiving the courage, determination and Zionist aspirations of these young crew members, in their early twenties, who ran such a complex operation, and the Holocaust survivors who took part in the establishing of the new Jewish homeland We will be most grateful for your help and contribution.