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Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet's (Shabak) chief David Zini has warned in closed-door discussions that "the next October 7 will be in Eilat," Israel's southernmost city, according to several security sources who spoke to Haaretz.
However, officials within the wider security establishment have expressed skepticism over whether any concrete intelligence supports this specific threat.
Despite those doubts, Zini reportedly instructed senior personnel within Israel's domestic intelligence agency to prioritize defensive preparations for the resort city, which borders both Jordan and Egypt.
Sources indicate that Zini views Eilat as an acute security vulnerability due to its isolated geographic position.
During meetings within the Shin Bet and across the wider defense establishment, he has warned of a potential ground incursion into the city, primarily from the Jordanian border and potentially via the Red Sea.
Consequently, Zini has ordered intelligence units to focus heavily on scenarios involving a coordinated, multi-pronged assault on Eilat that could involve collaboration among various regional factions, including Yemen's Houthis.
To assess these vulnerabilities firsthand, Zini and several senior agency officials quietly visited Eilat a few weeks ago to brief local security personnel and reiterate the threat of a cross-border raid.
However, multiple defense officials remain highly skeptical of the significant weight Zini is giving to this specific scenario, noting a distinct lack of actionable intelligence pointing to any concrete, planned attack on the resort city
According to another source, the Shin Bet has recently been examining what it describes as "a growing trend of Arab citizens of Israel moving to Eilat," a development some Israeli officials within the organization reportedly view as "concerning."
Israeli police have also identified the trend, though not everyone in law enforcement agrees it is problematic, according to the report.
"We hear how the Shin Bet views the issue. That's a matter of perspective," a senior police official who spoke to Haaretz said.
"At this stage, we do not identify any security concern here," the official added.
Police officials said they are instead more focused on a different trend: organized crime groups increasingly entering Eilat and purchasing property in the southern city. Even so, authorities said they have not yet observed an unusual rise in crime.
Several months ago, Eilat police commander Alon Kalfon said Israel's National Security Council had also identified a growing Arab population in the city.
"The National Security Council has determined that Eilat is becoming a mixed city. There are a great many Arabs here," Kalfon said in an interview with a local outlet.
Last month, Haaretz reported that Zini had personally briefed a cabinet meeting regarding "an attempt by Arabs to take over Eilat."
Responding to the report, Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri emphasized that, as the Shin Bet itself clarified, there is no concrete intelligence indicating an imminent or new threat to the city.
He added that the municipality and its security forces remain prepared for any scenario, pledging to work closely with the defense establishment to safeguard both residents and visitors
Haaretz reported that Hanan Ginat, head of the Eilat Regional Council, said he was not surprised by Zini's warning.
"It is clear to us that the eastern border region is currently the most sensitive border area in the country," Ginat said.
"Even today, the Jordanian border in the southern Arava serves as a route for constant criminal smuggling. Our concern is that this criminal corridor could become a route through which terrorist cells attempt to infiltrate Israel and attack our communities," he noted.
"We call on the state to redirect resources to the eastern border, strengthen local defense units and recognize the scale of the security challenge we face," he added.
In a separate development, newly appointed Mossad Director Roman Gofman has ordered a renewed, comprehensive internal investigation into the organization's conduct on Oct. 7 and its activities during the subsequent war, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Haaretz.
The sources said the probe is not intended to replace previous internal investigations conducted by the Mossad, but rather constitutes part of Gofman's onboarding process as the agency's new director.
Gofman formally assumed office earlier this month, a day after Israel's High Court rejected a series of petitions challenging his appointment over his role in a 2024 influence operation involving a minor, a case first exposed by Haaretz.
In their ruling, the justices said Gofman's conduct in the affair did not constitute an ethical failing and found no evidence that he knew the individual involved was underage.
These developments come as a direct continuation of the internal upheaval the Mossad has undergone following Gofman's appointment as successor to the agency's former director David Barnea.
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