Israel recovers wreck of Altalena ship sunk off Tel Aviv after 78 years

Israel has recovered the wreck of the Altalena, a ship that sank off the coast of Tel Aviv in 1948, after a prolonged secret search. The ship was found at a depth of 503 meters in the sea, marking the end of a years-long quest that concluded 78 years after its sinking. Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu announced the discovery, stating that it occurred at 12:30 a.m. and represented a historic moment, occurring 78 years after the ship was sunk during clashes in June 1948.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the find as a significant event, emphasizing that reaching the wreck followed a long search. He highlighted that the timing of the discovery conveyed a message to the Israeli public, firmly asserting that a war between brothers is unacceptable. The Altalena had transported weapons for the Irgun, a Zionist paramilitary group involved in attacks against British mandate authorities and Palestinian residents during the fight for Israeli independence.

Upon arriving off the Israeli coast in June 1948, during a period of civil war with neighboring Arab states, the ship was ordered to be attacked and sunk by then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to assert state authority and prevent the Irgun from challenging the Israeli army. The conflict escalated, leading to the deaths of 16 Irgun members and three Israeli soldiers.

The aftermath of the incident deepened the political divisions between Ben-Gurion and Irgun leader Menachem Begin, whose forces ultimately surrendered following the sinking of the Altalena.