World News
Discovery of sunken Altalena vessel triggers political battle on Israel's right
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are competing to claim the historical legacy of the Irgun militia ahead of October elections.
The short version
- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the discovery of the Altalena, an Irgun militia cargo ship sunk on orders from David Ben-Gurion in 1948.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a video address from the Etzel Museum in Jaffa to counter Ben-Gvir and claim the militia's historical legacy for his Likud base.
- The dispute highlights internal right-wing competition ahead of Israel's planned October elections, though political analysts note the vessel's discovery carries little weight for most voters.
Key facts
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the discovery of the wreck of the Altalena, a cargo ship sunk in June 1948 during a dispute over weapon control.[Al Jazeera]
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Etzel Museum near Jaffa and released a video address asserting his connection to the legacy of the Irgun.[Al Jazeera]
- Netanyahu's Likud party trails former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar Party in recent polling ahead of the October elections.[Al Jazeera]
- The Irgun militia was involved in major 1948 violent events, including the Deir Yassin massacre alongside the Lehi militia, and carried out the 1946 King David Hotel bombing against British mandate forces.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- The long-term impact of the discovery and the political framing around the Altalena on right-wing voter turnout in the October elections remains unclear.[Al Jazeera]