Israel is not heading for civil war | Opinions
Israeli Prime Minister Addresses Altalena Discovery Amid Political Tensions
TEL AVIV, Israel — The recent discovery of the wreckage of the Altalena has reignited historical tensions within Israel’s political landscape. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a public appearance on August 24 outside the Etzel Museum, where he announced plans to recover the ship. The Altalena, operated by the right-wing Zionist paramilitary group known as Etzel, was shelled by the nascent Israeli military in 1948. Netanyahu emphasized the recovery’s significance, stating it would symbolize a commitment to preventing civil war in the future.
The Altalena, carrying over 900 immigrants along with medical supplies and weapons, became a flashpoint during a period of conflict over control between the fledgling Israeli government and Irgun, as Etzel is also known. The confrontation escalated when Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered the ship shelled as it approached Tel Aviv. Irgun leader Menachem Begin, who was aboard, urged restraint, calling for unity among Jews to avoid civil strife.
Since then, the Altalena has served as a reminder for the Israeli right of the perceived willingness of the left to use military force against their own. Although the event became a symbolic grievance over the decades, it had receded largely into historical memory until its recent resurfacing amid electoral maneuvers by Netanyahu, who invoked Began’s message to signal a warning amid current political battles.
Despite the dramatic rhetoric, experts are skeptical about the possibility of an imminent civil war in Israel. Instead, they point to a fundamental consensus among the Israeli populace regarding national security, which has overshadowed ideological divides. This consensus prioritizes the security of Jewish life and supremacy over all other considerations, particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023, attacks that shifted the nation’s approach to defense overnight.
The Israeli public appears to support a security doctrine focused on establishing Jewish supremacy, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts with Palestinians over territory and resources. Most Israeli political parties, regardless of their differences, share a unified stance on maintaining security through military force, with no current inclination to reconsider the occupation that the International Court of Justice has deemed unlawful.
Public sentiment suggests that while many Israelis may criticize Netanyahu’s personal conduct, a significant majority resonate with his policies. Analysis of Hebrew media and social networks indicates that with few exceptions, the broader Jewish community in Israel supports aggressive policies and remains resistant to changes that could end the longstanding conflict.
As long as the tenets of Jewish supremacy and military might remain central to Israeli identity and governance, analysts predict that the likelihood of civil unrest remains minimal. The military, seen as a bedrock of Israeli nationalism, would not act against settlers in conflicts with Palestinians, reinforcing the prevailing order within Israeli society.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
