Ari is a crack agent for Mossad Aliyah Bet and a brilliant military leader born in Palestine to early pioneer settlers. He coordinates the defense and smuggling of Jewish refugees, utilizing elaborate plans to challenge the British blockade. He exhibits a physically powerful presence and maintains a stoic, emotionally detached demeanor that frequently intimidates both his enemies and his allies.

Kitty is an American nurse coping with the tragic loss of her husband and young daughter. She volunteers in orphanages and refugee camps in the aftermath of World War II, bringing her medical expertise to displaced populations. Though she harbors political ambivalence about the struggles surrounding her, she feels an intense, protective pull toward the children in her care.

Barak is a towering figure in the Jewish community of Palestine, having arrived on foot as a teenager fleeing violence in eastern Europe. He transitions from an agricultural pioneer establishing the first kibbutzim to a prominent international diplomat working for the nascent Israeli government. He strongly favors diplomatic bridge-building with British and Arab leaders over violent resistance.

Karen is a teenage Jewish girl who survived the Holocaust after being sent from Germany to a foster family in Denmark. Possessing striking green eyes and a cheerful temperament, she volunteers as an aid worker for displaced children in camps across Europe. She seeks connection with her roots and hopes to locate her surviving biological father.

Dov is a brilliant Polish teenager who survived the Warsaw ghetto and Auschwitz. He emerges from the war severely traumatized, harboring a fierce, sullen anger toward the world. His exceptional skills as a counterfeiter make him indispensable to the resistance, though he refuses to cooperate unless his own safety and that of his friends is guaranteed.

The passionate, headstrong younger brother of Barak Ben Canaan. After walking from Russia to Palestine, he becomes frustrated by the cautious diplomacy of the mainstream leadership. He breaks away to found the Maccabees, a militant underground faction focused on aggressive resistance against British rule and Arab hostility.

A prominent American journalist known for his coverage of the Nuremberg trials. He leverages his international platform to report on the plight of Jewish refugees, acting as a crucial media ally for the resistance leaders seeking to pressure the British government.

A dedicated officer in the Palmach, the Jewish underground army. Cultured and deeply knowledgeable about his people's history, he helps organize the refugees in Cyprus for their eventual arrival in Palestine, operating as one of Ari Ben Canaan's most trusted lieutenants.

The fierce, native-born daughter of Barak and Sarah. Operating as a capable soldier in her own right, she embodies the tough, uncompromising nature of the "sabra" generation raised on the rough frontier of Palestine.

An aging British army officer managing the containment camps in Cyprus. He wrestles privately with a troubled marriage and traumatic memories of liberating concentration camps. His hidden Jewish heritage leaves him morally conflicted about enforcing his government's blockade against the refugees.

An emigrant from Silesia who marries into the pioneering Rabinsky family. She endures immense physical and emotional hardship to protect her family and build a permanent agricultural community in the hostile terrain of the Huleh Valley.

A harsh British military officer stationed in Cyprus. He views the refugees purely as a political nuisance and resents the sympathetic attitudes of his superiors, harboring deep-seated prejudices.

A robust Palmach fighter who works closely with Ari Ben Canaan. He exhibits a passionate protective streak over the refugee children during their dangerous operations.

A young Moroccan Jew possessing keen espionage skills. He serves as an essential intelligence operative for the underground military forces.

An educated Arab effendi who forms a close bond with early Jewish settlers. He acts as a crucial cultural liaison and bridge-builder between the local Arab communities and the arriving immigrants.

The son of Kammal and a childhood friend of Ari Ben Canaan. As political tensions rise, he finds himself caught between his personal loyalties and the mounting hostilities in his village.

A prominent university professor in Germany who initially believes his assimilation into German culture will protect his family from the rising Nazi regime.

A devout, traditional man devoted to the Torah. He believes the return to Palestine must wait for divine intervention, opposing his sons' secular ambitions to establish agricultural communities.