Sunken ship sparks fight on Israel’s right over militia’s violent legacy

The discovery of the Altalena shipwreck has intensified a rivalry between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as both claim to be the true heir of the pre-state Irgun militia. Netanyahu rushed to the Etzel Museum to release a video countering Ben-Gvir's earlier announcement, invoking the Irgun's decision to avoid civil war during the 1948 Altalena incident. The political maneuvering comes as Netanyahu faces declining poll numbers, corruption charges, and criticism over his government's failures before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.