Nine photos depicting Illegal Immigrant ship "Parita" near the Tel-Aviv shores, by photographer Walter Zadek. Tel-Aviv, August 22, 1939.
The Illegal Immigrant ship "Parita" arrived through "Af Al Pi" operation – the illegal immigration movement of the Revisionist Movement organized by Hatzohar, Beitar and Etzel. The ship sailed on July 12, 1939 from Constanza port in the Black Sea with 857 members of Beitar on board, from Germany, Austria, Poland and Romania. The journey was supposed to last one week but lasted 42 days. After endless hardships, almost with no water or food, the ship reached the shores of Tel-Aviv on August 22, 1939. A sandbank opposite "Ritz" hotel, about fifty meters from the shore forced the immigrants to disembark. They reached the shore in small boats, and were arrested by the British. Ten days later they received certificates and were released. The photos portray immigrants brought to shore in small boats, medical care, etc. Eight are signed on the reverse with the photographer's (Walter Zadek, 1900-1992) ink stamp, one photo with his signature.
13X18 cm, (one 17X10 cm). Good condition. Spotting and glue remnants on the reverse. Horizontal folding mark on one photo. One torn photo, fastened with adhesive tape.