Ben-Gvir took one of Likud's strongest symbols and turned it against Netanyahu - opinion

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir turned Monday's Altalena commemoration into a political humiliation for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appropriating one of the most powerful symbols of Menachem Begin, the Likud, Herut, the Revisionist movement, and Jabotinsky's ideal of hadar.

"The holy cannon," as it was called, was the artillery used by the fledgling IDF after receiving the order to fire on the Altalena. The argument over that episode will never end, as is the way with old historical disputes. What matters is that the event did not turn into a civil war.

Begin deserves much of the credit for that. Perhaps, deep down, the Irgun commander knew that David Ben-Gurion was right. But even if he did not, he decided to prevent a civil war at any cost, and that was, in my view, the most important decision he ever made. I am almost certain he would agree.

What a disgrace: From Ben-Gurion's "holy cannon," nearly eight decades later we have arrived at the Davidka. For those who do not remember, the Davidka was a typical Palmach invention from the darkest days of the War of Independence, when there were no real cannons. It did not cause much damage, its range was short, and the destruction it caused was limited, but it made an enormous noise that sometimes succeeded in driving away the Arab gangs.

As you have probably guessed, today's Davidka is named Itamar Ben-Gvir. He knows how to make noise and commotion. He also knows how to pull political maneuvers.

On Monday, Ben-Gvir gave Netanyahu a lesson in politics and managed to snatch from under the prime minister's nose the greatest symbol of the ruling party, may it rest in peace, the greatest symbol of the Likud, of Herut, of the Revisionist movement, and of Jabotinsky's hadar.

Netanyahu scrambles to salvage stolen celebration

The event was both funny and sad, both grand and ridiculous. To see the prime minister of Israel rushing around, armed with an army of security guards, clearing swimmers from the Tel Aviv beach, positioning himself outside so as not to encounter Ben-Gvir inside, and trying to parachute his own spin into the heart of the stolen celebration and the hijacked ship taken over by the heir to Meir Kahane. What a disgrace.

Meanwhile, inside the Irgun Museum, Itamar Begin, or Menachem Ben-Gvir, was having a grand celebration of his own. He even hinted that "Begin also knew persecution," just like him. Ben-Gurion used to call Begin "the man sitting next to Yohanan Bader," and now Benjamin Netanyahu is unwilling to be photographed with Ben-Gvir.

Anyone who knows Ben-Gvir knows how much he was enjoying those moments. Anyone who knows Netanyahu knew how much he was suffering at that hour. His pathetic speech, delivered in the backyard of the Irgun Museum, looked much like the situation itself. With astonishing gall, he repeatedly stressed that "there will be no civil war," even though he has managed to bring us closer to civil war than at any point since the Altalena was sunk. And we have no Begin to prevent it.

At the end of his speech, Netanyahu pulled out a characteristically pompous promise: "I promise you that we will bring the Altalena up from the depths of the sea." Yes, yes, Bibi. You just forgot to say when that will happen. After you appoint Nir Barkat finance minister, or after total victory?

Spoiler: The Altalena will not be raised from the depths of the sea. It is too complex, too complicated, too expensive, and probably not really important.

The Altalena wound has scarred over

Contrary to what was said on quite a few websites and television channels on Monday, there is no mystery surrounding the Altalena. Everything is clear and known. There is a rift there that our forefathers managed to heal. There is a wound there that had enough time to scar over.

Back then, this place had leaders worthy of the name. There was Ben-Gurion, and there was Begin. Their heirs now are, what a disaster, Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir. I do not know which of the two Menachem Begin would despise more if he were alive now.

Begin's successor, the revered Lehi commander Yitzhak Shamir, used to leave the Knesset plenum when Meir Kahane rose to speak. Begin himself would certainly have refused to be photographed with Ben-Gvir, but Netanyahu is the one he would truly mourn. After all, Netanyahu is his heir, and there can be no greater disgrace than that.