The Shin Bet issued a statement following reports that Director Ronen Zini warned Eilat could face the next large-scale attack. The agency clarified that Zini's comments were made months ago during a routine familiarization tour and stressed there is no specific, concrete intelligence or alert regarding the city—only general threat learning across the service's sectors.
The Shin Bet's latest response, issued around 13:50 Monday, clarifies that Director Ronen Zini's warning about Eilat being the next site of an October 7-style attack was based on general threat assessment, not specific intelligence. The agency stated the comments were made months ago during a routine familiarization tour and stressed there is no concrete alert or intelligence regarding the city. This follows earlier reports at 14:03 Monday that Zini had ordered an intelligence buildup for the southern port, viewing it as a critical vulnerability despite internal skepticism.
Across Monday afternoon, The Zioneer reported the evolution of this story in several stages. At 13:50, the first Shin Bet response confirmed Zini toured Eilat months ago as part of his entry process, with no specific warning. By 14:03, a Haaretz report detailed Zini ordering intensified intelligence collection amid organizational doubt over concrete threats. The same hour, a more dramatic N12 report quoted Zini saying "the next October 7 could be in Eilat," prompting the agency to issue a second, more clarifying statement at 13:50 that characterized the remarks as general threat learning across the service's sectors. The agency's language has consistently aimed to downplay the urgency of Zini's warning.
As The Zioneer reported at 14:03, Zini identified Eilat as a critical vulnerability due to its isolated geography and the possibility of a ground invasion from Jordan or a maritime approach. Security officials expressed skepticism about concrete evidence for such a scenario.
It remains unclear whether the intelligence buildup Zini ordered is ongoing or was a routine measure, and whether the agency's public response fully reflects internal assessments about the city's risk profile.
8 developments
- StrongSecurity commentary warns Hezbollah is 'normalizing' border breaches to replicate October 7 pattern
- DevelopingEilat mayor: No concrete threat to city, but security forces are fully prepared
- DevelopingBitton Rosen warns the West Bank is next front and demands a decisive offensive
- DevelopingEilot Regional Council head warns eastern border is Israel's most sensitive security arena
Source and signal
- Internal intake