Whenever Speedboats Appear: Renewed Israeli Fears of a Maritime Attack on Eilat
Shin Bet chief renews warnings of an "October 7"-style scenario via the Red Sea, while Maariv mocks the fears, exposing a rift within the security establishment.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Hebrew newspaper Maariv has revealed renewed fears within Israeli security circles regarding the possibility of a surprise maritime attack targeting the city of Eilat, in light of repeated warnings issued by the head of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet), David Zini, about a scenario resembling the October 7 attack.
Renewed Warnings of a Maritime Attack
According to the newspaper, Zini has returned to issuing warnings that observers described as “unusual,” calling for the reinforcement of the naval military presence in the Red Sea and the deployment of “Super Dvora” fast patrol boats off the coast of Eilat in anticipation of any hostile infiltration operation.
The Shin Bet chief emphasized, according to the report, that political and military authorities have not taken his warnings seriously enough, reminding them of what happened before the October 7 attack when similar security assessments were ignored.
Division Within the Israeli Security Establishment
Maariv pointed out that these warnings come despite the absence of concrete intelligence indicating an imminent threat from any party, whether from Yemen, Egypt, or Jordan—countries that possess coastlines or access points connected to the Red Sea.
The newspaper added that the Shin Bet chief’s assessments do not enjoy a consensus within the security establishment. Major Israeli intelligence agencies, including the Mossad and Aman (military intelligence), along with the army command, express significant skepticism regarding the likelihood of such a scenario.
Media Ridicule of the “Eilat” Scenario
In a somewhat sarcastic tone, Maariv considered that the repeated warnings regarding Eilat reflect the state of anxiety and division within the Israeli security apparatus rather than the existence of a real and confirmed threat. This has once again brought to the forefront the debate over Israel’s readiness to handle any potential security surprises in the Red Sea.
