ABSTRACT
On September 3, 1939, Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany. That afternoon, British gunboats intercepted the Mossad blockade runner the Schutzstaffel Tiger Hill. As the Tiger Hill ran aground and began to unload, the British commenced firing. Two ma’apilim were killed and the remaining 1,415 were captured. Jews possessed only a narrow range of alternative options. Lack of sovereignty and the absence of any strong-willed allies meant that effective diplomatic action against Nazi Germany was impossible. Mapai and Ha-Zohar disagreed noticeably on the issue of the anti-Nazi boycott. While the idea of a boycott was not completely consistent with the idea of evacuation, Ha-Zohar strongly supported a public declaration of economic war by Jewry. In 1939, however, Britain’s decision to confront Hitler did not reverse British policy regarding the Jews. In 1939, Britain’s decision to confront Hitler did not reverse British policy regarding the Jews.
