The wreck of the Altalena, a cargo vessel that once carried weapons for the Irgun paramilitary group, has become the focal point of a political rivalry between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir announced the discovery on Monday, while Netanyahu subsequently released a competing video address from the Etzel Museum near Jaffa to assert his own connection to the historical vessel. The ship was sunk on the orders of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, in June 1948, following a dispute over control of its weapons payload.
The competition reflects broader tensions within Israel’s right-wing political landscape. Netanyahu’s Likud party traces its lineage to the Irgun, while Ben-Gvir has been positioning himself as an alternative far-right candidate. Netanyahu invoked historical parallels between himself and former Irgun commander Menachem Begin, suggesting that current attacks on his leadership resembled the civil conflict that emerged during the Altalena’s sinking. Political analysts note that Ben-Gvir initially claimed the wreck’s symbolism by controlling its announcement and subsequently highlighting Netanyahu’s reluctance to be photographed together.
The Irgun militia has long been a contested historical figure in Israeli society. Alongside another right-wing militia called Lehi, the Irgun was responsible for significant violence during the 1948 war that led to the displacement of more than 750,000 Palestinians, an event known as the Nakba. Notable incidents include the 1948 massacre at Deir Yassin and the shelling of Jaffa. Historians and scholars have debated the extent of responsibility for the Nakba’s worst violence, with some emphasizing the Irgun’s role and others pointing to broader Zionist paramilitary organizations.
The timing of the discovery coincides with Netanyahu’s political challenges. Facing potential prison sentences on corruption charges and official scrutiny of his government’s response to the October 7, 2023 attack, Netanyahu is trailing in polls ahead of October elections. Far-right voters, potentially including Ben-Gvir supporters, could prove decisive in the race. Observers suggest the Altalena discovery holds limited broader significance for most Israeli voters but serves primarily as a tool for competition between the two leaders seeking to appeal to their political bases through nationalist and historical symbolism.
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