Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir debate Irgun legacy regarding Altalena wreck
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir competed to claim the symbolic legacy of the Altalena, an Irgun cargo vessel discovered off the coast of Israel. The ship, which carried weapons for the Irgun militia before being sunk by order of David Ben-Gurion in 1948, serves as a significant historical touchstone for Israel's right-wing politics. Netanyahu visited the Etzel Museum to release a video address, drawing parallels between himself and former Prime Minister Menachem Begin to criticize political opponents. The Irgun was a paramilitary group associated with the 1948 Nakba, the 1946 King David Hotel bombing, and the massacre at Deir Yassin.
Consequences
The competition between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir highlights an ongoing internal struggle within right-wing Israeli politics to claim the legacy of the Irgun. This rhetoric emerges as Netanyahu faces a critical period characterized by declining poll numbers, potential prison sentences for corruption charges, and public scrutiny regarding his government's performance ahead of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.
Sources
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