Israeli Officials Reveal Details of Altalena Shipwreck Discovery Off Coast

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Amichai Eliyahu, held a press conference on Monday evening to disclose the details of the operation that located the Altalena shipwreck. The ship was found intact at a depth of 503 meters west of Israel's coast after months of planning and a maritime search operation. The discovery was made using a vessel equipped with advanced sensors and survey systems. The search mission was initiated and led by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and Roni Sadeh, head of the Marine Mapping Department at the Survey of Israel.

During the event held near the Etzel Museum, Netanyahu issued a separate statement emphasizing the importance of national unity, citing the Altalena incident as a lesson. He called for the formation of a broad national government to secure Israel's future and security. Meanwhile, Minister Ben-Gvir criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of lacking solidarity in critical moments despite private meetings.

The Altalena ship arrived in Israel in June 1948 carrying Etzel fighters, immigrants, and a large cache of weapons and military equipment. A violent confrontation erupted between the Etzel leadership and the Israeli government over the ship's cargo, resulting in the deaths of 16 Etzel members and three IDF soldiers. Originally purchased in the United States in 1947, the ship was a former American Navy tank landing craft. After arriving near the coast, the ship was shelled and set ablaze on June 22, 1948, near Tel Aviv, and its remains were later sunk off the coast of Nabi Rubin.