The Irgun arms ship was located at a depth of over 500 meters, nearly eight decades after its sinking during Israel's War of Independence set off a historic confrontation between the nascent IDF and the Irgun. The discovery was confirmed Monday and marks a major milestone in national heritage preservation, according to The Zioneer.
The discovery of the Altalena, the Irgun arms ship that was sunk off Tel Aviv in June 1948, was confirmed Monday, with the vessel located intact at a depth of 503 meters, 20 kilometers west of the Israeli coastline.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, the identification was achieved at 00:30 using advanced maritime mapping sensors and survey systems. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced the find, describing it as a "historic closing of a circle" concerning one of the most painful episodes in Israel's founding. Roni Shada, head of the Maritime Mapping Division at the Mapping Center of Israel (MAPI), credited the success to a dedicated team utilizing technology that could access previously unreachable depths.
The sinking of the Altalena in June 1948, on the orders of then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, resulted in the deaths of 16 Irgun members and three IDF soldiers. The incident is regarded by historians as a defining moment that established the principle of a single, unified national military authority under the state.
Experts cited by The Zioneer's earlier reporting suggest that salvaging the vessel may not be feasible due to its extreme depth and condition after 78 years underwater. The ship remains a site of profound national significance, with the discovery providing material evidence for a story long carried in Israel's historical memory.
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