The Altalena was found at sea — but the right never really left it | Moshe Cohen-Eliya

An opinion piece by Moshe Cohen-Eliya on the significance of the discovery of the Altalena ship for the Israeli right. The author argues that the historical lesson 'don't shoot at brothers' has become an excuse that restrains legitimate democratic struggle, creating an asymmetry against unelected power centers. He calls for distinguishing between submission to violence and conducting a determined democratic struggle.

An opinion piece by Moshe Cohen-Eliya, published following the discovery of the Altalena ship in the depths of the sea. The author argues that the historical event brings back to life a trauma that has accompanied the Israeli right for 78 years. The historical lesson 'don't shoot at brothers,' which was wisdom in 1948, has, in his view, become a reflex that paralyzes the right in every real confrontation with unelected power centers. The author distinguishes between the danger of anarchy from below and the danger of oligarchy from above, and argues that when unelected institutions expand their power, and the elected majority becomes convinced that opposition is 'unstatesmanlike,' a built-in asymmetry is created. He proposes a space for action between submission and violence: public struggle, indirect civil disobedience, and cooperation with entities abroad. The article concludes with a call to distinguish between 'don't shoot at brothers' and avoiding legitimate struggle, emphasizing that true statesmanship is a struggle to ensure the state remains subject to the democratic sovereign.

The Altalena was found at sea — but the right never really left it | Moshe Cohen-Eliya