Why Israel Is Not Heading Toward a Civil War Despite Historical Grievances

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, recently visited the Etzel Museum following the discovery of the Altalena ship after 78 years at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea on August 24, 2026 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Standing outside the museum on Tel Aviv’s seafront, Netanyahu addressed the historical significance of the vessel, which belonged to the right-wing Zionist paramilitary organisation Etzel and was shelled by the newly formed Israeli military in 1948.

Netanyahu promised to raise the ship from the seabed and turn it into a symbol for future generations, centering on the message: “Civil war, never again.” Etzel, also known as Irgun, had promoted a highly nationalistic vision of Jewish political life, advocated Jewish military supremacy, and resisted surrendering its weapons and autonomy to the new state. In June 1948, the Altalena arrived carrying more than 900 immigrants, medical supplies, and a large shipment of weapons. A dispute over control of the arms escalated into fighting, prompting left-wing Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to order Israeli forces to shell the ship off Tel Aviv. While Etzel leader Menachem Begin urged supporters not to retaliate to avoid civil war, the episode remained a historical grievance for the Israeli right.

The rediscovery of the ship during an election campaign abruptly revived that symbolism. However, experts argue that Israel is not heading for a civil war because the Israeli public shares a broad and deep ideological consensus. Security remains the cornerstone of Israeli public life and identity, overriding all other considerations, with the shared goal of maintaining Jewish supremacy and continuing military operations. Despite disagreements regarding Netanyahu's personal ethics, the vast majority of Israeli Jews support these overarching state policies. As long as Jewish supremacy remains the foundation of the Israeli military and state, a civil war remains highly unlikely.