Sunken ship sparks fight on Israel’s right over militia’s violent legacy
Summary
A right-wing political struggle in Israel has grown around the legacy of the Irgun militia, which was involved in violent acts against Palestinians during the 1948 war. Recently, the wreck of the Irgun’s ship, the Altalena, was discovered, leading Israeli leaders to claim its symbolism for their political support ahead of upcoming elections.Key Facts
- Irgun was a militia active in 1948 that took part in killing and torturing Palestinians during the war that created Israel.
- The Altalena was a ship carrying weapons to Irgun from France and was sunk on orders from Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, in June 1948.
- Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the discovery of the Altalena wreck.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Etzel Museum (named after Irgun) and released a video to associate himself with Irgun’s legacy.
- Netanyahu faces legal troubles from corruption charges and worries about his political future before the crucial October elections.
- The Altalena sinking nearly caused a civil war between Irgun and the Israeli military over control of weapons.
- Irgun and another militia, Lehi, committed attacks on Palestinian villages like Deir Yassin and Jaffa, leading to deaths and displacement during the Nakba.
- Before Israel’s statehood, Irgun also fought against British forces, including bombing the King David Hotel in 1946.
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