Moshe Redman Criticizes Netanyahu Over Altalena Controversy, Accuses Government of Sowing Division

Moshe Redman sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government on Monday evening following renewed public debate about the Altalena affair after the discovery of the shipwreck deep at sea. Redman dismissed the current discussion as disconnected from the original issue, calling it a "festival" of distortion and division. He accused Netanyahu, whom he called "the liar from Caesarea," of twisting facts and spreading division under the guise of calls for unity and brotherhood.

Redman emphasized that the key lesson from the Altalena incident is not about preventing civil war but about the subordination of armed forces to the state. He described the affair as a story about the rule of law, the supremacy of law, and the distinction between militias and a state army. While acknowledging that there were "stains" in the handling of the Altalena case, including the deaths of 16 Irgun members and three IDF soldiers, Redman credited Menachem Begin's call to "not raise a hand against a brother" for preventing escalation.

The main thrust of Redman's criticism targeted the current government, which he accused of systematically dismantling the vital lesson of "one state, one army, one authority." He argued that those now invoking unity and lessons from Altalena are acting contrary to this central principle. Redman's remarks came amid broader political tensions surrounding the renewed focus on the Altalena shipwreck and its historical implications.