Egoz (ship)

The ego ( אֱגוֹז, lit. " Walnut " ) was a set up by the Mossad, ship to the rescue of Moroccan Jews. The ship sank in 1961 and pulled 46 people to their deaths.

History

The ego was used in World War II by the British under the name Pisces as a cargo ship and then converted into a smugglers boat. In 1960, the ship was chartered by the Mossad and should bring on every trip between 40 and 50 Jews from Morocco to Gibraltar, from where the Jewish emigrants then will have to go to Israel. In three months, so 334 Jewish residents could be brought out of the country.

On 10 January 1961, the egos of 44 Jews of al - Hoceima launched from on board in the lake. However, the ship ran into a storm in distress and went under. All passengers died, also an Israeli radio operator and a Spanish crew member. The remaining three Spanish crew members were rescued. 22 bodies were recovered, left behind the others had. It was only in December 1992, allowed King Hassan II of Morocco the recovery of the remaining corpses and their transfer to Israel, where you beisetzte the remains on Mount Herzl.

In Ashdod, a monument to the in the accident was built lost their lives.

Follow

After the accident, a contract was concluded, which should regulate the emigration of Moroccan Jews. So until 1964 80.000 Jews from Morocco were brought to Israel in Operation Jachin.