Rare Historical Photograph: Haganah Soldiers—Later the IDF—Await the Altalena on the Tel Aviv Shore, 1948

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Rare Historical Photograph: Haganah Soldiers—Later the IDF—Await the Altalena on the Tel Aviv Shore, 1948

Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm (7.0 × 5.1 inches) — Framed, original period print

This rare historical photograph shows a line of Haganah soldiers, standing alert on the Tel Aviv beach, rifles in hand — prepared to open fire on the Altalena should the ship refuse to surrender to the demands of the provisional government.
These were the tense moments just before the Altalena approached the shoreline, minutes before the confrontation that would become one of the most painful crises in Israel’s early history.

According to attribution common in Revisionist circles, the first figure on the left is believed to be Yitzhak Rabin, then a young officer in the Harel Brigade.

The Altalena – The Voyage, the Immigrants, the Weapons, and the Eruption of Conflict

The Altalena was purchased by the Irgun and operated with a dual mission:

Bringing Holocaust survivors to Israel

On board were approximately 940 passengers, many of them survivors newly released from displaced-persons camps in Europe.

Delivering a massive weapons shipment

The ship carried:

• 5,000 rifles

• Hundreds of machine guns

• Mortars

• Millions of rounds of ammunition

• Additional critical military supplies

This arsenal was intended to reinforce the Irgun fighters, especially in besieged Jerusalem — a move which, many argue, could have significantly changed the military balance.

The confrontation reaches its peak in Tel Aviv

After anchoring at Kfar Vitkin and as tensions escalated between the provisional government and the Irgun, IDF (Haganah) forces were ordered to prevent the unloading of weapons at all costs.
The ship proceeded south to Tel Aviv, where two forces now stood face to face:

• On the shore: armed Haganah/IDF soldiers, ready to fire.

• On the ship: Irgun fighters, commanders, and immigrants.

This is the moment captured in the photograph.

Ben-Gurion and the Order to Open Fire – A Decision that Became a National Wound

David Ben-Gurion viewed any weapons unloading outside the control of the newly formed IDF as a threat to the sovereignty of the new state.
In the Revisionist view, the decision was also politically motivated to weaken the Irgun as an independent force.

His order was unequivocal:

Prevent the unloading of the weapons — even at the cost of firing on Jews.

Rabin – His Role, the Shooting, and the Controversy That Still Echoes

According to the Revisionist narrative:

Rabin was among the central officers who carried out the order to open fire.

Shots were directed not only at Irgun fighters on the shore, but also at those who had already jumped into the water after abandoning the burning ship.

The claim regarding Rabin’s own words

There is a widely circulated belief in Revisionist circles that during his tenure as Israel’s ambassador in the United States,
Rabin said that he had also fired at Irgun fighters who were in the water.

Rabin in the eyes of Revisionists

Because of his involvement in the shooting, Rabin has been regarded by many Revisionists as a traitor, one who turned his weapon against fellow Jews during the War of Independence.

The confrontation resulted in 14 dead and dozens wounded — a moment that nearly ignited a civil war.

Who Was on the Ship?

On the Altalena were:

• Experienced Irgun fighters

• New immigrants and Holocaust survivors

• Senior Irgun commanders, including Captain Eliyahu Lankin

• A weapons cargo that could have altered the battle for Jerusalem

The Photograph – An Original Work by Benno Rothenberg

This photograph was taken by Benno Rothenberg, one of the most important photographers of the pre-state and early statehood era.

About Rothenberg

• Documented battles, daily life, political struggles, and underground movements.

• Known for precision, courage, and his presence on the front lines in historical moments.

• His photographs appear in major museums, archives, and private collections worldwide.

• He captured events as they unfolded — raw, unedited, and historically vital.

Authenticity of the Print

On the back of the photograph appears Rothenberg’s original studio stamp, and the print itself is:

✔ An original period print from the time of the event
✔ Not a reproduction or modern copy

It is an authentic visual document from the moment when the Jewish community stood on the brink of profound internal conflict.