Netanyahu Digs Up Sunken Arms Ship in 'Pre Election Stunt' The recent discovery of the sunken arms ship Altalena off Israel's coast has sparked a frenzy of nostalgia and calculated politics from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The 1948 vessel, carrying 5,000 rifles and 450 machine guns for the Irgun militia, was sunk in a confrontation with Israeli forces that had far reaching consequences for the young state.
This discovery has provided Netanyahu's government with an electoral lifeline in the run up to October's legislative elections.