Ari Ben Canaan emerges as the central figure of the story throughout the novel, though he is often shown (particularly in the book’s early sections) through the perceptions of others. In Book 1, he is the lead officer of the Aliyah Bet organization’s attempt to break Jewish refugees out of their compounds on Cyprus, and he develops all the plans for the Exodus ruse.

Ari is the son of Barak and Sarah Ben Canaan, who were settlers from the early Aliyah movements into Palestine, before the fall of the Ottoman Empire. He grew up on a moshav in Galilee, maintaining close ties of friendship with a nearby Arab village. During the 1930s and early 1940s, he works for the Jewish military and undercover immigration services, frequently finding success because of his mastery of strategy and his brilliant ability as a leader. He is depicted as physically powerful—tall, with dark hair and blue eyes—and possessing a magnetic charisma that often puts those around him in awe of his abilities.

Usually accompanied on missions by his trusted lieutenants—David Ben Ami, Zev Gilboa, and Joab Yarkoni—or his sister, Jordana, Ari is one of the most trusted and influential agents working for the nascent Israeli state in the years leading up to its independence.