Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

קיסריה
Caesarea
Καισάρεια
قيسارية
Caesarea Maritima
Caesarea Palaestina
παράλιος Καισάρεια

Caesarea Maritima παράλιος Καισάρεια was a city and harbor built by Herod the Great about 25–13 BC.
It lies on the Mediterranean coast, on the site of Pyrgos Stratonos Turris Stratonis Strato's Tower.
Caesarea קיסריה became the seat of the Roman praefecti soon after its foundation.
Emperor Vespasian raised its status to that of a colonia.
After the destruction of Jerusalem, in 70 AD, Caesarea קיסריה was established as the provincial capital of Iudaea Province IVDÆA before the change of name to Syria Palaestina, in 134 A.D.

In 1884, a small fishing village was established on the Roman and Crusader remains near the ancient port.
The village was founded by Muslims from Bosnia Босна, who had chosen to leave their homes in the wake of the Austrian occupation of their country.
During the 1948 War of Independence, Caesarea קיסריה was abandoned by its inhabitants.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, large parts of the lands in and around Caesarea קיסריה were acquired by Baron Edmond de Rothschild and the Jewish Colonization Association (ICA) for development.

In 1940, kibbutz Sdot Yam קיבוץ שדות ים was established south of the port of Caesarea קיסריה.

On August 15, 1946, Idéros Amiram Shochat עמירם שוחט was spotted by the British cruiser, HMS Saumarez, as she approached the coast of Palestine from the north, near southern Lebanon.
HMS Saumarez continued to track Amiram Shochat עמירם שוחט on radar.
Idéros Amiram Shochat עמירם שוחט was not on the list of illegal immigrant ships, so no action was taken, even though she was inside the patrol line and only 6 miles from Caesarea קיסריה.

On February 8, 1947, two British destroyers spotted laNegev לנגב, as she attempted the final run to Caesarea קיסריה.
Amuta Yam.org.il cites: laNegev לנגב, was discovered by the British on February 5, 1947.
British warship, HMS Chieftain followed laNegev לנגב, which attempted several diversionary movements.
HMS Chieftain fired on her, and boarded.
Habonim Dror.org cites "a minor battle against three ships of the royal navy."
The passengers fought, throwing cans of preserves at the British marines, but the commander quickly ordered a stop to all resistance.
Shimon Kaufman cites: "we were sighted by a British destroyer as we attempted the final run to shore. There followed a minor battle against three ships of the royal navy. British marines boarded our ship, to be met by a hail of stones and broken bottles. Raking machine-gun fire from a destroyer finally cleared our decks (casualties: two immigrants were wounded and one of the English Habonim killed)."
Ttwo paasengers were wounded and one passenger, Herbert Lazar Laser, a Habonom member born in Germany, and had found refuge in England during the war years, was killed.

In the 1950s, the development town, Or Akiva אור עקיבא, was founded further east of Caesarea קיסריה.