Career
Later on, he was the captain of the ill-fated Altalena on behalf of the Irgun at the beginning of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Fein captained the Altalena on behalf of the Irgun from its departure point in Portuguese-de-Bouc, France to the newly formed state of Israel in June 1948. Upon arriving in Israel the ship was shelled causing incredible controversy and antagonism between Israeli military and paramilitary groups.
The shelling, controversy and political fallout that came from the fight are collectively known as the Altalena Affair.