Eilat mayor says city needs more than security after Shin Bet warning

Eilat officials moved to calm residents after a Haaretz report quoted Shin Bet chief David Zini as warning that “the next October 7 will be in Eilat.” The report said the southern city was being treated as a top security priority, triggering a strong response from City Hall on Monday.

The Shin Bet later clarified that Zini had visited Eilat several months ago as part of his initial assessment of threats and that part of the tour was conducted with the army. The agency stressed that there is no specific intelligence or concrete warning, only operational planning and study of threats across its areas of work.

Mayor Eli Lankri welcomed that clarification, saying it “puts things in their proper place.” He said there is no concrete information about a new or immediate threat to Eilat, but added that the city and the security forces protecting it are ready for any scenario. Lankri said that since the start of the war he has held regular discussions with all security bodies and has repeatedly warned about dangers from the eastern border.

Lankri also argued that security alone is not enough. “One of the central lessons of October 7 is that national resilience is built in advance, not after the fact,” he said. Calling Eilat Israel’s southern gateway and a strategically vital city at a far remove from the center, he urged continued state investment in security, medical services, emergency infrastructure and public services. He said the city is in the middle of the summer travel season and expects tens of thousands of visitors in the coming days, while operating normally and remaining in close contact with security officials.