After 78 years, the Altalena was located at 00:30 Monday, August 24, at a depth of 503 meters, approximately 20 km west of Israel's coast, using advanced maritime mapping technology. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu announced the discovery, describing it as a 'historic closing of a circle' for one of the most painful episodes in Israel's founding. The ship was found intact but salvage is not expected to be feasible due to depth and condition, according to reports.
At 00:30 on Monday, August 24, a complex maritime search operation located the Altalena intact at a depth of 503 meters, approximately 20 kilometers west of the Israeli coastline. The operation, initiated by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and directed by Roni Shada, head of the Maritime Mapping Division at the Mapping Center of Israel (MAPI), utilized a dedicated sensor array aboard a survey vessel, MAPI CEO Hagai Ronen said.
The Altalena arrived off the coast of the nascent State of Israel in June 1948, carrying approximately 900 immigrants and a large cache of weapons for the Irgun. The confrontation between the Irgun and the newly formed IDF over control of the arms escalated into a naval engagement off Tel Aviv on June 22, 1948, in which the ship was shelled and sunk. The incident left 16 Irgun members and three IDF soldiers dead. Irgun commander Menachem Begin ordered his followers not to retaliate, declaring there would be no civil war — a decision that has become a foundational lesson in Israeli national unity, as The Zioneer has reported.
Technical assessments cited by ynet indicate that salvaging the vessel from its depth of over 500 meters is not expected to be feasible. The Ministry of Heritage held a press conference Monday evening to present findings and documentation from the depths. The discovery has been described by the ministers as a historic closing of a circle for the national memory.
11 developments
- StrongBen Gvir addresses 5,000 emergency squad volunteers despite attorney general opposition
- DevelopingEliad Shraga stands by claims Netanyahu profited from submarine affair
- StrongNetanyahu, Eliyahu unveil cornerstone for Atarot Heritage Center, marking 50 years since Entebbe
- StrongNetanyahu angry after discovering Likud mayors unaware of Eisenkot's Iran stance
Source and signal
- Open-source intake