Page 489 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo I

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joyed international prestige. The Joint undertook the task without question and carried it out
loyally throughout the period of transhipment without making too many accounts with the
Yishuv institutions. The AJDC took the line that distressed Jews wherever they were, should
be given assistance and the organization should not be deterred by political difficulties. The
Joint activities in the Cyprus camps should he seen as a continuation of their activities in the
Refugee Camps of Europe and of their efforts to aid the illegal immigration. The Joint had
the experience and the means to implement an efficient welfare organization free of political
ties and this was an important factor in itself if one considers that the immigrant society in
Cyprus was divided into movement and parties representing the whole
political spectrum of the Zionist movement. The AJDC succeeded in cooperating with the
military authorities, the Yishuv institutions and bodies working in Cyprus under the auspices
of the latter. Such cooperation was to everyone’s satisfaction and also to the advantage of the
detainees. The Joint did not limit in activities in Cyprus to welfare problems and when neces-
sary they did not hesitate to defend immigrants’ rights in the face of the British authorities.
For the immigrants their period of detention in Cyprus was the last stage in their long
journey to Palestine - a journey during which they had been destined to spend long weary
months in detention camps under conditions of great hardship. Nevertheless, they usually
overcame the problems as a united group showing great self-discipline. It appears that their
ability to withstand the conditions of detention should be attributed to a number of factors.
(a) Most of the people were young and healthy and they had already suffered greater hard-
ships than those they underwent in the Cyprus camps. Thus, they were prepared to stand
up such conditions if only to expedite their early arrival to Palestine.
(b) Cyprus was their last stop before entering Palestine after a long and exhausting journey
whose climax was the sea voyage which was, in itself, a severe physical and mental test.
By reaching Cyprus their journey to Palestine was already assured. While in detention
they knew it was crucial to adjust and struggle against the dangers of demoralization.
Political developments in Palestine were intensive and they Bred the immigrants with the
hope that their period of detention would be shortened and they would reach Palestine
earlier than they had expected. And, indeed, this was the case as regards most of the im-
migrants who passed through the Cyprus detention camps.
(c) The fact that the British military authorities did not interfere in the Internal life of the
Immigrants in the Camps contributed greatly to their private and public well-being. The
fact that the movements continued to exist and that families did not split up gave the im-
migrants extensive internal freedom despite the conditions of detention and these circum-
stances prevented any feeling of alienation.
All these factors together created a general feeling among the immigrants that they were
very nearly home and dry in Palestine.