Shin Bet Chief Warns of Possible Future Attack on Eilat

According to a report in Haaretz, Shin Bet chief David Zini has told senior officials in closed discussions that he believes “the next October 7” could happen in Eilat. He has pressed the agency’s leadership to give top priority to preparing for a possible attack on the Red Sea city, which he sees as a security weak point because of its geographic isolation.

Zini has raised the scenario in internal Shin Bet meetings and other forums, warning that hostile actors could infiltrate the city through land borders, mainly from Jordan, and possibly by sea. Sources said he is directing the agency’s intelligence personnel to focus on the possibility of an attack on Eilat.

At the same time, some security officials question both the weight Zini gives the scenario and whether there is any real intelligence indicating a planned attack. The report did not cite any concrete warning of an imminent threat.

Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri said the Shin Bet had clarified that there is no specific or immediate threat to the city. “The city and all the security forces protecting it are prepared and ready for every scenario,” he said. Lankri added that since the start of the war he has held regular discussions with security officials, that Eilat has been strengthened during the fighting, including along the eastern border, and that Israel must also invest in resilience, healthcare, emergency infrastructure and public services. “A strong, safe and thriving Eilat is a top national interest,” he said.