At a memorial remembering the sinking of the Altalena, President Reuven Rivlin said that:
"If there is heroism in the Altalena affair, it was Menachem Begin, of blessed memory, who was the hero. Menachem Begin is a symbol and an example that even after paying the price of blood, we can do everything in order to preserve our unity. Only one month separates Israel's Independence Day, from this day, the day of remembrance of the Altalena victims. Today reminds us that the greatest threat to our country, even seventy years after the establishment of the State of Israel, lies within us. The Altalani discourse dominates Israel. A discourse of accusation, shallow and violent. Even the word unity, thrown into the air, sounds meaningless, and immediately disappears in the general atmosphere. We must not let the divisive discourse continue to destroy any good part. The word unity, unity of the people must return to our conceptual world, not as empty word, but as a resolute social demand. Seventy-one years later, we must salute the Altalena fighters not only for their devotion but mainly for the fact that, despite the fact that they were fired upon, they chose not to return fire. Not to respond to death in death. The most difficult and painful disputes, will not be resolved by force. May the memory of the martyrs of the Altalena be preserved in the hearts of the people from generation to generation."