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First Shin Bet Chief Reveals Rare Recording on Altalena Crisis and Civil War Fears
A rare recording of Isser Harel, Israel’s first Shin Bet chief, reveals David Ben-Gurion’s decisive actions during the Altalena Affair to prevent civil war and unify the military.
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What happened
- 01Isser Harel’s rare recording reveals Ben-Gurion’s leadership during the 1948 Altalena Affair.
- 02Ben-Gurion feared civil war if Israel’s military was divided among factions.
- 03Harel recounts Ben-Gurion’s insistence on one government and one army.
- 04Ben-Gurion accepted integrating detained Irgun leaders into the IDF to promote unity.
- 05Former Lehi members, including Yitzhak Shamir, were later incorporated into Mossad.
- 06The recording highlights Ben-Gurion’s balance of firmness and reconciliation.
Harel describes fears of internal conflict during the War of Independence and Ben-Gurion’s efforts to integrate former rivals into state institutions, emphasizing unity and discipline in the young state.
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