‘Jews won’t shoot Jews today’: The men of the Altalena remember the day Israel nearly tore itself apart

The recent discovery of the Altalena's remains off the coast of Tel Aviv has brought renewed attention to the 1948 confrontation, a pivotal and divisive event in Israel's early history. Shlomo Goldhor, a 97-year-old Irgun fighter, recounted the desperate need for weapons in Jerusalem and the surge in morale when the Altalena, carrying modern arms, was expected. He criticized the decision to fire on the ship, stating, "They acted recklessly and ordered deadly fire instead of negotiating." Goldhor emphasized Menachem Begin's message, "Civil war, never," and believes such an event could not happen today, asserting, "Today Jews will not shoot Jews."

• The article also shares the stories of other individuals connected to the Altalena, including Israel Sander, an Irgun fighter who survived the shelling, and Binyamin Bobash, an Israeli Navy member tasked with guarding and later sinking the ship.
• Sander's daughter, Ariella Sander Biron, noted her father lost friends and was severely wounded later in the War of Independence.
• Bobash's grandson, Yaniv Simon, recounted how his grandfather, an amateur photographer, refused Menachem Begin's request for a souvenir from the ship, not recognizing him at the time.
• The families highlight the historical significance of the discovery, viewing it as a reminder of the dangers of civil conflict and a crucial part of Israel's history that must be preserved and taught to future generations.