Hanotea company

Hanotea (Planter) was a citrus planting company based in Netanya and established in 1929 by established Jewish settlers in Palestine. In an arrangement with the Reich Economics Ministry, the blocked German bank accounts of prospective immigrants would be unblocked and funds from them used by Hanotea to buy agricultural German goods; these goods, along with the immigrants, would then go to Palestine, and the immigrants would be granted a house or citrus plantation by the company of the same value. Hanotea’s director, Sam Cohen, represented the company in direct negotiations with the Reich Economics Ministry beginning in March 1933. In May 1933 Hanotea applied for permission to transfer capital from Germany to Palestine. This pilot arrangement appeared to be operating successfully and so paved the way for the later Haavara Agreement.