Wreck of the Altalena located off Israel’s coast 78 years after 1948 clash

The wreck of the Altalena, an Irgun arms ship shelled on the orders of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, has been located about 20 kilometers off the Israeli coast after decades of searching. The vessel was found intact at a depth of 503 meters following a complex maritime operation using specialized sensors and advanced survey systems. Roni Sadeh, director of the Marine Mapping Division at the Survey of Israel, stated that the discovery was made possible through advanced technology and the work of a dedicated professional team. Israeli officials noted that raising the entire ship is likely impossible due to the scale and engineering complexity, and they are currently considering alternatives such as establishing a floating memorial or a maritime heritage center. The Altalena sailed from France to Israel in June 1948, carrying approximately 930 immigrants, including Holocaust survivors and Irgun fighters, along with a large quantity of weapons. Following a dispute between Irgun commander Menachem Begin and Ben-Gurion over the distribution of the arms, armed clashes erupted, resulting in 19 deaths. The damaged vessel remained off the coast of Tel Aviv for several months before being towed out to sea and sunk on the orders of Ben-Gurion.