Part 3/10:
In the first months of the embargo, Israeli officials were assured by several high-ranking French government members that the embargo would be temporary. With de Gaulle's retirement, the new administration under Prime Minister Georges Pompidou sparked renewed optimism in Tel Aviv. However, the expected diplomatic resolution failed to materialize, and the embargo remained firmly in place. As time passed, the Israeli Navy's need for the boats became increasingly critical; thus, naval officers began exploring unconventional methods to circumvent the embargo.