After 78 years: The Altalena has been found
Located 20 km off the Israeli coast at a depth of 503 meters, the remains of the Irgun organization's ship 'Altalena' have been discovered intact. The vessel, shelled in 1948 by order of David Ben-Gurion, was located following a complex, months-long search operation.
The remains of the Altalena, the ship of the Irgun organization that was shelled by order of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion during the War of Independence, were located overnight (between Sunday and Monday) about 20 kilometers off the coast of Israel. The ship was found intact at a depth of 503 meters during a complex maritime search, following long months of careful planning and preparation.
The discovery was made using a vessel equipped with special sensors and advanced survey systems.
"We managed to reach the ship at a depth of over 500 meters thanks to advanced technologies and the intensive work of a professional and dedicated team at sea," said Roni Sade, Director of the Marine Mapping Division at the Survey of Israel.
Hagai Ronen, Director General of the Survey of Israel, added:
"The discovery of the Altalena is a historic and moving moment, in which knowledge, technology, and advanced mapping capabilities allow us to touch a significant chapter in the history of the State of Israel. The Center is proud to take part in the national effort to uncover the past and to work on its accurate documentation and preservation for future generations."
The discovery was made possible by sonars, as divers cannot reach such depths. Raising the entire ship is likely impossible, as it would be an unprecedentedly complex engineering project. Options under consideration include a floating memorial or a maritime heritage center. The possibility of raising parts of the ship is also being examined, though its current condition remains unclear. Efforts are underway to document the vessel in the open sea.
The Altalena sailed to Israel from France with about 930 immigrants on board, including Holocaust survivors, and a large amount of military equipment. In negotiations held immediately after the establishment of the IDF and the dismantling of the underground organizations, Irgun commander Menachem Begin demanded to transfer part of the weapons to Irgun battalions in Jerusalem. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion refused the demand and ordered the ship to be shelled if it did not agree to hand over all weapons to the IDF. In the exchange of fire, 19 people were killed — 16 from the Irgun and the ship, and three from the IDF. The ship floated for several months off the coast of Tel Aviv until Ben-Gurion ordered it to be sunk.
