Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have entered a political dispute over the wreckage of the Altalena, an Irgun arms ship sunk in 1948. Ben-Gvir announced on Monday that the wreckage had been found, after which Netanyahu also visited the site. The two leaders issued separate video messages, turning the discovery into a politically significant event ahead of October’s election.

At the Etzel Museum near Jaffa, Netanyahu recounted the Altalena episode and highlighted former Irgun commander Menachem Begin’s order not to return fire when Israeli forces fired on his fighters. The ship had arrived from France in June 1948 carrying weapons for Irgun, but a dispute over control of the arms with the newly formed Israeli army ended with David Ben-Gurion ordering it sunk.

Analysts cited in the report said the renewed attention reflects rivalry between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir rather than broad voter interest. Polls place Netanyahu’s Likud behind rival Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party, while Ben-Gvir retains support among hardline voters. Chatham House adviser Yossi Mekelberg warned that rhetoric about civil-war fears is politically motivated but dangerous.