Discovery of Sunken Altalena Wreck Sparks Intense Rivalry on Israel’s Right Over Militia's Legacy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are locked in a fierce political race to claim the legacy of the Irgun, a historical militia implicated in violence during the 1948 war. The dispute was triggered by the recent discovery of the wreck of the Altalena, a cargo vessel that carried weapons to the paramilitary group before being sunk on the orders of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion.

Following the announcement of the discovery, Netanyahu rushed to the Etzel Museum near Jaffa to release a rival video address, attempting to secure the symbolism of the wreck for his right-wing base. Struggling in the polls ahead of critical October elections and facing ongoing political pressure, Netanyahu invoked the memory of Irgun commander and former Prime Minister Menachem Begin to draw parallels to himself amid what he termed "absurd" political attacks.

The historical sinking of the Altalena had previously raised fears of a civil war between Israelis over control of the weapons on board. Historians note that the legacy of the Irgun and the Lehi remains a deep faultline in Israeli politics, linked to the violent events of the Nakba, including the massacre at Deir Jassin and the offensive in Jaffa, as well as an insurgency against British forces that featured the bombing of the King David Hotel.

As Netanyahu's Likud party trails behind the Yashar Party led by Gadi Eisenkot, analysts suggest the scramble for the Altalena's legacy highlights the intense competition between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir for far-right voters. Experts warn that populist rhetoric regarding civil war and victimhood, deployed by both leaders, continues to generate dangerous tensions within Israeli society.