'#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/liveblog_entry\/roads-into-and-out-of-eilat-other-highways-in-south-shut-due-to-flooding\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=OlH7weyZuaf5F7_.3TeXdujLLcy8zyMcvtWkQW2oAyI-1746531888-1.0.1.1-yMsjFz4A7gCBrTUe1lIZbF2132HczGQgojA3gQY3aX0" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); 164 square meter house with a 362 square meter yard was sold recently to an Israeli from the center of the country for NIS 5.8 million The house on Ha'ahava Street is on a 450 square meter lot with a swimming pool and is overlooking the sea which is part of Amram Avraham Construction's Aqua Resort project has two parking spaces and will be ready for occupancy in several months The buyer is an investor who is selling his house in central Israel in order to finance the purchase Amram Avraham VP marketing Assaf Hamon says there are two types of buyers for the houses in the Eilat neighborhood people looking for a higher quality home and investors from the center "buy the house as a vacation home and not necessarily for long-term rental as happens in large cities in Israel." long-term rentals are less common in Eilat and they range between NIS 12,000 and NIS 14,000 per month and can produce an average of NIS 600,000 per year assuming that it is rented for about 200 days a year The house overlooks the Red Sea and "Mosh's Beach" one of Eilat's most most popular beaches for tourists The house has direct access to the beach via a path and it is a short walk from a planned nearby park Proximity to the sea has a big effect in Eilat From past deals I have accompanied and analyzed you can see a price difference of up to 30% between two properties in the same neighborhood - one with a sea view and the other without." Talking about Eilat's high-end housing market The luxury market in Eilat mainly includes houses and penthouses and the majority is of course concentrated in areas close to the sea and especially in properties that offer the same open sea view who offer the property as an alternative to a hotel for example to large families looking for a house with six Two or three years ago the market was at its peak similar to the boom in the real estate market in Israel as a whole It seems that they are now returning to their high level and if the demand for vacation apartments and Airbnb in the city continues it is difficult to accurately estimate at the moment what will happen in the future in Eilat's luxury market." About 57,000 people currently live in Eilat the average price for a deal in the Red Sea resort is much lower than the price in this deal - at NIS 1.8 million when it comes to plots of land with a large yard and a private pool nine deals have been completed in Eilat for more than NIS 5 million Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on March 4 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. The recent unprecedented shark attack on a diver at an Israeli beach – the first in the country’s history – has thrust these marine creatures into the national spotlight. The incident comes after an unusual surge in shark sightings at beaches in Beit Yanai and Hadera nature organizations and experts have issued urgent guidelines for safely coexisting with these powerful predators.  “These are magnificent creatures that should be given the respect they deserve in the habitat, and that respect is extended by not entering their habitat, harassing them or feeding them,” explains Leigh Livne, a shark expert with a PhD in mariculture from the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa “The public has a misconception that they can push the limits and that [sharks are] ‘nice.’ But sharks — while they are generally indifferent to people — also have conflict of space and competition for resources,” she continues confined place with fishermen whose catches could attract sharks I would definitely recommend that humans should not enter the water The public can still view them from a platform or from up above in the rocks; it’s still awe inspiring.” Marine biologist Adi Barash, director of the Sharks in Israel organization, echoed that recommendation in a Ynet report: “Heavy human presence stresses the sharks People must avoid touching or feeding them; they are not pets.” Israel’s Mediterranean waters are home to several shark species.  Dusky and sandbar sharks are among the most commonly spotted species These cartilaginous fish belong to the requiem shark family and can reach impressive sizes Sandbar sharks typically grow up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) while dusky sharks can reach lengths up to 3.5 meters (11 feet) Scientists have discovered that different genetic lineages of the same species are converging in Israeli waters — a phenomenon that hasn’t been documented elsewhere in the world.  Two distinct lineages of dusky sharks (Atlantic and Indo-Pacific) and four lineages of sandbar sharks (Northwest Indian Ocean along with some sharks that appear genetically unique to Israeli waters) have been observed in the same location “They’re all mixing together in one spot Marine biologists have also documented the presence of other species including blue sharks While these predators may appear intimidating most species frequenting Israeli waters tend to avoid human interaction and primarily feed on fish Marine experts believe the warm water discharged from power stations — elevating water temperatures some 10°C higher than the surrounding sea — creates an alluringly comfortable environment for the sharks in colder weather.  This phenomenon has turned locations like the Hadera power station into unlikely ecotourism hotspots where visitors can observe congregations of sharks from safe viewing platforms during the peak winter season But the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) emphasizes that the unique winter gathering of endangered sharks at power station outlets has become dangerously chaotic due to unregulated human activities SPNI has been advocating for four years to have the small 1-square-kilometer area declared a “protected natural value” during shark season (October to May) which would enable safety regulations benefiting both humans and sharks Israel’s sharks are highly migratory often embarking on impressive journeys across the Mediterranean.  Tracking studies have revealed that many sharks tagged in Israeli waters later appear near Cyprus These migration patterns follow food sources breeding cycles and seasonal temperature changes Research conducted by Livne has also shown that female dusky sharks are coming to these warm Israeli waters to aid the development of their embryos during gestation Livne is conducting studies to find out more about how pregnant sharks travel to and from Israel’s coasts during seasonal changes What makes Israel’s sharks particularly extraordinary in global terms is their unusual proximity to shore and shallow waters when sharks come this close to shore and in such shallow waters they’re typically juveniles or newborns seeking protection from larger predators we’re seeing full-grown adult sharks in these accessible nearshore environments.” This unprecedented access has created invaluable research opportunities that are extremely rare elsewhere sample and measure these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat rather than studying them in controlled aquarium environments The accessibility allows scientists to collect what Livne describes as “the most natural snapshot of shark habitats and behavior possible” — gathering authentic data on wild shark populations that would be virtually impossible to obtain anywhere else Hundreds of deep-water sharks and the largest concentration of deep-sea shark eggs ever found were discovered off the coast near Tel Aviv in 2021 representing one of the most significant discoveries of marine habitats in Israel.  found in the lowest layer of the ocean just above the seabed might be the region’s largest mating location for deep-sea sharks.  This remarkable finding came during an ecological survey conducted by Israeli marine biologists in collaboration with international researchers.  They encountered several deep-water shark species rarely observed in the eastern Mediterranean along with extensive egg-laying grounds that suggest the area serves as a critical nursery for these mysterious creatures.  This finding has significant implications for marine conservation efforts and has prompted Israeli authorities to consider special protections for the unique habitat many of the most serious incidents originate in the waters that Israel shares with Egypt in the Red Sea primarily because the species of sharks in these waters are more aggressive than their Mediterranean cousins.  The Red Sea is home to more potentially dangerous tiger sharks and occasional bull sharks responsible for attacks in neighboring Egyptian waters particularly in the popular diving regions of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada attacks within Israeli Red Sea territories remain extremely rare due to vigilant safety measures and different coastal topography While it may seem like shark encounters have been increasing in recent years it’s not the amount of shark visits that has increased it’s the number of reports and an increased ability to share them This has been documented for decades,” she says “Thanks to the rise of social media in the last 10 to 15 years so we feel that there are more sharks right now but the aggregation has been stable along our shores.” According to the International Shark Attack File and only 47 unprovoked encounters in 2024 put the year’s statistic “well below the 10-year average of 70.” Climate change has significantly altered ocean temperatures and currents pushing sharks into new territories as they search for food while their populations have declined by over 70 percent since the 1970s due to overfishing and habitat destruction.  human recreational activities in shark habitats have expanded dramatically Israeli conservation efforts have positioned the country as a regional leader in shark protection with strict laws against harming or feeding these creatures But there’s always more that can be done to make sure both the human and shark populations stay safe What is the light in an underground bomb shelter kindergarten in Eilat, Israel during the current war? Full Story “My daughter Ariella was three weeks old when we were told that we had to evacuate our home,” Dekel says to me “Were you ever afraid before about living in Kiryat Shemoneh “We never could have anticipated this.” as far from their home as it is possible to be in Israel I have the privilege of volunteering for Rabbi Mendi and Chanie Klein at Chabad of Eilat as the people of Kiryat Shemoneh evacuate here in the tens of thousands turning a vacation spot into a refugee encampment Chabad of Eilat becomes their family—becomes all our family talk of relocation simply sounded like a little distance from the chaos engulfing our reality,” Dekel recalls ‘No one could have anticipated that we would celebrate our daughter’s birthday in a hotel room in Eilat I never imagined that it would be 2025 and we would still be in the thick of it.” The story I tell is one I have witnessed firsthand The story of those who once lived on the one end of the country But if they were going to be sent anywhere Hashem sent them into the hands of Chabad of Eilat led by the two most supportive people I have ever met “I just wonder if I’ll ever have a home again,” the children tell me The teenagers wander around in the streets I ask the adults about parenting children in such conditions “Ze lo pashut.” It’s not simple “It’s impossible to enforce a sense of schedule and discipline when a room meant for a three-day vacation is forced to be your house.” We don’t know how bad the damage is.’ The level of instability that now plagues thousands of children in Israel is rarely spoken about “Refugee status is a familiar part of Jewish history yet who would have ever thought that it could happen in our own land?” The weekly Parsha takes on a different meaning We ask the children questions about Pharaoh and the G-d’s promise to the Jewish people that ‘Pharaoh will let the hostages and all the Jews go back to Kiryat Shemoneh.’ It rolls off their tongues so naturally that I can’t argue stranded near the Sinai desert for over 500 days Rabbi Mendi and Chanie arrange beautiful Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah celebrations for the children I am not growing up here,” says one of the girls The boys are gifted siddurim in honor of their Bar Mitzvahs He cannot comprehend that it is now he who is so far south of the holy city “I can’t even begin to tell you what Rabbi Mendi and Chanie have done for us,” Dekel says surprise bags for every holiday…” He hasn’t stopped to take a breath Tears stream down her face as a mother speaks “You don’t even know what it means to us for Chabad to come here day in and day out In our makeshift underground bomb shelter kindergarten that barely sees the light of day—you are the light.” She is sobbing Each one of them tells us how much they loved baking challah and learning English and how they wish us a life full of “fun and friends.” The government says that they will update them in July Rabbi Mendi and Chanie come back with the new group of volunteers “Rabbi Mendi and Chanie are our anchor,” Dekel says with conviction Chabad Eilat is raising funds for Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations for the refugee children of Kiryat Shmona and year-round support for the evacuated youth. Partner with their work by donating at causematch.com/Eilat Sign up for the COLlive Daily News Roundup and never miss a story Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) "Are we really so different from the Arabs I think we share far more than what separates us," said Rotem April 28 (Xinhua) -- Traveling southward more than 200 km from Jerusalem cutting through the blistering Jordan Valley Israel's southernmost port city on the Red Sea and the oppressive heat that had clung to the journey swiftly dissipated Towering concrete walls rose from the barren desert with the silent silhouette of Israel's air defense system nestled among them Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023 Eilat has sustained numerous drone and missile attacks from Yemen's Houthi group "I've heard the air raid sirens dozens of times over the past year and a half," said Rotem I have the best view of the city -- and the clearest sight of the explosions tearing it apart." He took us to a lookout point with a stunning view where one can see the deep blue of the Gulf of Eilat This narrow strip of water sits at the crossroads of four countries: Jordan and Israel stand face to face across the strait their enormous national flags visible from both shores Saudi Arabia and Egypt gaze across the same waters the Gulf of Eilat serves as a vital access point to the Red Sea Eilat had prospered due to its role as an important transportation hub this place was packed with imported vehicles waiting to clear customs," Rotem said the Houthi group has been conducting attacks against Israeli cities and ships in the Red Sea to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war ports across the entire region have been affected Fears of further attacks have led cargo ships to reroute which once relied heavily on international trade "We used to have 12 to 13 ships a month -- now we have zero," said Gideon Golber noting that all ship traffic stopped completely after the Houthi attacks began Rotem walked us through the silent port complex Several imported cars sat abandoned behind fences their surfaces draped in white protective plastic that shimmered faintly in the sunlight Our interview was soon interrupted by security personnel "You can't film here," one of them warned us a handful of solitary sailboats floated across the water remnants of what had once been a bustling tourist paradise tens of thousands of Israelis from Gaza-border communities have taken refuge in Eilat they have not escaped the war -- air raid sirens still shatter the quiet here and Eilat has become a fragile sanctuary amid the ongoing conflict Among them are budget-conscious Israelis from the central regions shoppers here benefit from relief against Israel's 18 percent value-added tax (VAT) Many come to stock up on big-ticket items for their households Our time in Eilat happened to overlap with Israel's abrupt restart of military actions in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire with Hamas (0030 GMT) on March 18 when we were jolted awake by the news alerts and rushed to work Later reports showed that the overnight airstrikes had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians military and the Houthis in Yemen also intensified Since Israel resumed its intensified military campaign on March 18 more than 2,100 Palestinians have been killed bringing the death toll in Gaza since the war began to over 51,000 daily life has once again become a cycle of alertness and running to bomb shelters and while the human cost is mounting on both sides the uncertainty extends beyond the battlefield with no clear end in sight to the wider turmoil the lights of Israeli and Jordanian towns shimmered on either side of the water I think we share far more than what separates us Russian airline Red Wings is to launch direct flights between Eilat's Ramon airport and Moscow and Sochi in Russia starting June 12 The route will start with one weekly flight with the possibility of expanding to two weekly flights in the future if demand justifies it The move is part of cooperation between the Ministry of Transport the Israeli Embassy in Moscow and the Eilat Hotel Association with the potential to expand the operation to twice weekly flights or to larger aircraft." Red Wings Russian flights will begin operating shortly after Israir's international flights to Athens from Ramon airport which was launched last February but operated for only two weeks before being halted Ramon airport only serves domestic flights operated by Israir which depart from Ben Gurion Airport and Haifa Airport El Al will also begin operating daily domestic flights to Eilat for the first time in 12 years With the operation of El Al's routes to Ramon Airport the total number of daily flights between Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon will be 13-15 flights This is in addition to 2-3 daily flights from Haifa to Ramon Ramon airport also operated about 45 weekly flights abroad and Transavia operated flights from it to Paris attempts by Israir and Arkia to relaunch international flights from the airport failed due to low occupancy and lack of economic viability including plans by Transavia and Red Wings in October 2023 were also blocked following the events of October 7 and the security situation Now the industry hopes that Red Wings' joining the operation will re-energize the international aviation market from the southern city and strengthen Ramon's status as another gateway to Israel from the world Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on April 7 Construction will begin this year on the land vacated by Eilat's former airport 2,469 housing units will be built as well as 2,776 hotel rooms 88,000 square meters of office space and 95,000 square meters of commercial space Most of the lots in the central area have been marketed to developers and construction on some of the lots will begin in 2025 with first occupancy expected in 2028 and full occupancy by the end of the decade The planning of the northern and southern sections has not yet been completed and their occupancy is expected in the first half of the 2030s the neighborhood is expected to include a combination of housing the neighborhood is targeting buyers looking to buy a better quality home and upwardly mobile young middle class families seeking an urban experience that is currently lacking in the Red Sea resort the relative proximity to Ramon airport and the entrance to the city may attract families from the center of the country looking for a vacation home as well as investors looking for vacation apartments for short-term rental Real estate website Madlan CEO Tal Kopel said "Closing down Eilat's airport freed up a large area of land in a central location in the city and enabled the planning of a mixed-use district whose residents will enjoy good connectivity to the hotel area and also to additional new neighborhoods planned in the northeast of the city "Unlike the dormitory neighborhoods that have been built and are being built on the edges of the city in recent decades the airport district will be an urban neighborhood with a variety of shopping entertainment and employment options within walking distance which is expected to attract a population that is looking for a modern urban experience and is also willing to pay more for it than the prevailing prices in the city." The new neighborhood will have seven-floor apartment buildings along two parallel east-west roads and a new north-south road parallel to Road 90 The neighborhood is divided into three areas: the southern area will include housing and commercial and recreational areas and the northern area with a mix of uses that will include residential with a variety of buildings that will include terraced houses Residents of the neighborhood will enjoy access to street-side commerce in the hotel buildings as well as in the office building area west of the neighborhood The neighborhood's planning includes public buildings but it is not yet known which buildings are planned in them The district is planned with gardens in the residential areas as well as a linear park along the north-south road of the district and the huge terminal park in the southern part of the district a concert complex and a public park are planned Accessibility in the neighborhood will be good for cars but less so for public transport and borders the main Arava Highway (Road 90) to the west and Durban Street to the east Bus services in Eilat includes a small number of lines and it is likely that this will also be the case in the district The southern part of the district is relatively close to the central bus station making it easy to get to buses leaving the city a high-speed train line may be built to the city and although the location of the city railway station is not yet known it is likely that due to the central location of the district high-quality network of bicycle paths is planned in the north of the district but no paths are known to be planned in the center and south of the district there are no existing bicycle paths in the north of Eilat at all so cycling will probably not be a safe option in the city Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on March 30 By subscribing I accept the terms of use and privacy policy Try these kosher restaurantsPlanning some winter sunshine Here are the best places to eat in the Red Sea resort Debbie Kandel 3 min readThe kosher restaurant scene in Eilat has changed significantly in the past five years Many restaurants have not survived the Covid closures and the lack of tourism over the past year has also not helped the lack of flights has increased domestic tourism providing much-needed support to Eilat’s hotels and restaurants I travelled there to discover the city’s most interesting kosher restaurants My picks are listed below but the headline is that overall I ate well but there’s a severe lack of interesting kosher meat restaurants. There are plenty of standard grilled meat restaurants, such as HaLev Harahav or Achla Grill but these can be found in every city in the country If you’re driving down there, it’s worth going via the Dead Sea and stopping at Ooh La La Truck in a tranquil setting in Moshav Hazeva The food is dairy-kosher without supervision We drove back via Mizpe Ramon, where we had dinner in the lobby bar at Beresheet Hotel with spectacular views over the Ramon Crater Access to the hotel's restaurants is available only by reservation Here are my Eilat favourites — in alphabetical order so I didn’t have to pick a favourite: A post shared by CENA ITALY - EILAT (@cenaitaly.eilat) Cena Eilat, Brown Eilat An Italian restaurant and bar located at the back of the hotel lobby It serves traditional Southern Italian food with Middle Eastern influences Standout dishes include beautifully presented ceviche with labneh A post shared by mood. Bar&Restaurant (@moodrest_eilat) A poolside rooftop restaurant on top of the adult-only Now Hotel the varied menu includes freshly prepared salads We tried several dishes but the standout starters were ceviche with prunes and Amberjack sashimi with a tangy ginger dressing Labneh tortellini with a sage butter sauce was light and fluffy with the richness of the sauce balanced out by the acidity of the sour yogurt The sea bass green curry was also delicious and well-seasoned Desserts were good although not as special as the rest of the meal The restaurant is also open to outside guests for a classic Israeli breakfast with the option to stay and relax by the pool More info here A post shared by Ranch_House_Eilat (@ranch_house_eilat) Ranch House, Royal Beach Hotel This American steakhouse on the Royal Beach Promenade has been there for as long as I can remember yet remains one of Eilat's most popular kosher restaurants and has outlived all the competition and undergoes an aging process to enhance the flavor and texture The menu includes traditional cuts of meat served by weight but also offers more unique dishes Think New Orleans hot chicken (cornflake-crusted chicken thigh in a peanut butter & coconut milk marinade) and barbeque lamb spareribs It's hard to believe the desserts are parev We loved lemon yuzu cream with cornflakes and white chocolate and crack pie with vanilla ice cream with a good selection available by the glass More info here A post shared by TULUM BEACH EILAT 🏝️ (@tulum_beach.eilat) Tulum Beach One of the only kosher beach restaurants in Israel Tulum Beach is a beach club and restaurant with a varied menu that includes steaks AT lunchtime on a Friday the restaurant was busy with visitors and locals We started with freshly baked focaccia bread with black olive tapenade and garlic confit The purple panko tempura roll from the sushi menu Entrecote steak with baked potato and chimichurri and the home-made schnitzel were both very good and the crème brulee dessert was a favourite Overall, the food was better than at a standard beach restaurant, and we really enjoyed the setting and atmosphere.More info: here Debbie Kandel is a food and travel writer and founder of Debbest Israel. The self-proclaimed foodie moved to Israel from London in 2008 and is passionate about helping others plan their own adventures in Jerusalem and around Israel. More info on her tailor-made tasting tours of Shuk Machane Yehuda here Israeli food Israeli holidays Israeli restaurant Israeli travel Eilat Kosher restaurant kosher food kosher travel Security forces at the scene | Photo: No credit Security forces launched a major operation Tuesday morning near the southern resort city of Eilat following reports of a possible security breach along the Egyptian border The incident prompted authorities to block access to Eilat and deploy significant police and military resources and the police announced a return to normalcy The access routes to and from the city are now open to traffic and helicopters were scrambled to the area for reconnaissance Security officials are investigating the possibility of an infiltration by undocumented workers or terrorist operatives police established roadblocks on the access routes to Eilat Checkpoints were set up on Routes 90 and 40 to inspect vehicles Security forces were instructed to increase their vigilance Defense industries and aviation companies prepare to attend prestigious exhibition amid concerns over anti-Israel pressure in Europe The IDF is updating its grooming and uniform regulations All male soldiers will be allowed to grow beards based on.. While Mossad Director Dadi Barnea advocated for the operation as a potential game-changer against Hezbollah Analysis  Archaeology Blogpost Business & Finance Culture Exclusive Explainer Environment Features Health In Brief Jewish World Judea and Samaria Lifestyle Cyber & Internet Sports Diplomacy  Iran & The Gulf Gaza Strip Politics Shopping Terms of use Privacy Policy Submissions Contact Us The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30 Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better more balanced and more accurate journalism [contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”] "\/liveblog_entry\/footage-shows-impact-in-eilat-port-area-after-drone-infiltration-alarms-sounded\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=M4dtjkcenVWGXDh.6oeVoRw2KLPFEGB7dOCN1.GVDXk-1746531982-1.0.1.1-4NL50vqfVd7krZKtB6eKFdMXrlh8H98qMFs41MEalIE" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null Eilat’s port has been closed since November due to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea goods are being rerouted to Israel’s Mediterranean ports The Houthis of Yemen have attacked Israel at least 53 times since the beginning of the war in Gaza on October 7 according to the US Congressional Research Service The Iran-backed Ansar Allah/Houthi movement targets not only Israeli territory but also commercial and naval vessels near Bab el Mandeb Strait as they try to access the Red Sea and the Israeli port of Eilat The city of Eilat and its port on the northern tip of the Red Sea are protected by anti-missile systems and its port operations have dropped to zero “The Houthis are trying to suffocate Eilat and its economy The remaining Israeli ports are absorbing shipments delivered through the Red Sea but Eilat has unused logistics equipment and personnel impacting the ports in the Mediterranean Sea “Many ships moving between Israel and Asia need to reroute around Africa to avoid the Houthi attacks off Yemen’s coast which also increases the risk of attacks from other places like the coast of South Africa or the Strait of Gibraltar.” the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2722 which condemned the Houthi attacks and affirmed the rights of member states to defend their vessels This international move highlights the ongoing global concern over maritime security and the economic implications of the Houthi actions in the region more needs to be done for the port of Eilat “The US needs to get more involved in fighting off the Houthis now,” asserted Gideon “not later when the situation becomes much worse If the US is seen as weak in the region and the Houthis are allowed to continue This enables them to escalate their attacks and increase their range We need a complete solution to break this cycle that keeps fueling the Houthis attacks.” the other ports of Israel are managing the shipping issues spoke to The Media Line about the Israeli port system: but it is relatively small compared to the main ports in Israel with around 5% of the country’s traded volume we had the capacity to receive the shipments that would otherwise go to Eilat We have been gradually recovering since the COVID-19 economic downturn and the ships that rerouted from Eilat have been added to this equation “we are preparing for scenarios of escalation from the north with Hezbollah We have our ‘Emergency Routine,’ and everybody working in the port knows what to do if something happens.” Bar Yossef explained that the reroutings caused by the Houthi attacks are a problem for Egypt goods travel takes up to three weeks longer are competing healthily with each other to receive incoming ships from Asia “Considering the current available capacity of the ports in Israel and a GDP growth of around 4% a year the current port infrastructure can continue serving the country for the next 20 to 30 years,” he concluded The Media Line reached out to Sarit Fishbane the director of international relations and business development at the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce to explain how the ongoing conflict in Gaza impacted Israel’s international trade relations “Shipping prices have increased due to logistic challenges and the conflict has emphasized the significance of trade diversification The shipping lines from the Far East are forced to make a detour around Africa due to the Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea the construction sector has been affected severely and we have also seen a rise in demand for emergency equipment and long-shelf-life food products but the risk of interruption of international trade in the region is a global issue and does not concern only Israeli destinations.” Regarding the potential escalation in the north with Hezbollah impacting Israel’s international trade relations we may begin to see that factories located in the north may not be able to function continuously The Israeli ports in Haifa and Ashdod are fully operating with no disturbance Land transportation is completely functioning as well Israel may be in war but is not a war zone.” “The Israeli business community is extremely familiar with crisis situations and is agile and flexible Importers and exporters know how to accommodate fast and find creative solutions Israel has always emerged from a similar situation with more innovation and vast entrepreneurship as the voice of the business sector in Israel we created a dedicated channel for our members to raise their struggles and needs We began mapping the needs of the Israeli importers and retailers community and assisting them with shipment questions,” she said an experienced marine security consultant and the managing director of Wavetrain told The Media Line that Hezbollah and Hamas have not attacked commercial ships they possess capabilities that could potentially threaten maritime operations such as anti-ship missiles and small-boat tactics,” Hussey said “Hezbollah has reportedly received advanced weaponry from its allies and could theoretically pose a threat to commercial shipping in the Mediterranean Sea Hamas has focused its activities on rocket attacks and tunnel operations and although they could expand their tactics to include maritime threats While they haven’t attacked commercial ships yet the threat remains in escalating conflicts Hamas has threatened shipping in the Eastern Mediterranean but likely lacks the accuracy to hit moving ships without third-party help “Disruptions in maritime trade around Israel could have significant global implications,” Hussey noted The Eastern Mediterranean is crucial for transporting goods between Europe Prolonged disruptions could increase shipping times and costs impacting supply chains and economic stability Hussey said they have often targeted ships in the southern Red Sea Their capacity to expand depends on advanced weaponry and Iranian support their success rate in hitting targets is less than impressive even when not engaged by naval assets,” Hussey said “They could theoretically extend their reach but as nearly all shipping bound to and from the Suez Canal has to transit through the current missile/drone engagement zone near Bab el Mandeb Strait anyway I suspect there will be little incentive to do so.” International naval forces in the Mediterranean and Red Sea deter attacks from members of armed groups and pirates The coalition will likely continue protecting ships and focus on targeting Houthi bases and logistics Regarding the vulnerability of ports such as Haifa and Ashdod Ports like Haifa and Ashdod are within Hezbollah’s rocket range Significant conflict escalation could lead to attacks Past conflicts have had limited success in targeting Israeli ports and the Iron Dome reduces this likelihood further Recent drone attacks were countered effectively Current disruptions are more due to political and commercial decisions Hussey shared how shipping lines are weighing the choice between potential attacks while crossing into the Red Sea or an additional three weeks going around Africa into the Mediterranean Sea The safest route for ships is around the Cape of Good Hope reducing Bab el Mandeb traffic by 60% compared to last year Those who risk the straits often carry perishable goods or accept the risk due to low hit chances Despite high costs for insurance and security benefits include higher charter rates and lower fuel costs believing they won’t be targeted by Houthis "\/liveblog_entry\/idf-2-drones-launched-at-eilat-from-iraq-1-impacted-injuring-2-second-was-intercepted\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=JcIomemNvWQu6BpzGUKkTb8_XAhIqmM3zmB7E39RkBI-1746531992-1.0.1.1-QuhVHxlims7fP2kJDmeZXsoCC0P1frsbIEDXMwEq9ag" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null The Yemeni Houthi group said late Tuesday that it had carried out new attacks on targets in central and southern Israel Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the group's drone forces launched a “special military operation” targeting unspecified Israeli sites in “the occupied Jaffa area (Tel Aviv).” He added that “a second operation used a cruise missile to strike a power station in the Umm Rashrash (Eilat) area.” both operations “successfully hit their targets.” the Houthis also claimed responsibility for striking Israel’s Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv with a hypersonic ballistic missile adding that Israeli interception systems failed to neutralize it the Israeli military claimed in a statement that the missile was intercepted before it entered Israeli airspace The Magen David Adom emergency service reported that 11 people were injured while rushing to shelters during the interception and four more suffered panic attacks.These developments come amid reports of progress in negotiations for a potential cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza which has been facing a genocidal Israeli war since October 2023 have targeted Israeli cargo ships or ones linked with Tel Aviv in the Red Sea with missiles and drones vowing to continue until the attacks on the enclave end a coalition led by the US has been carrying out airstrikes that it said target Houthi locations in Yemen in response to the group’s Red Sea attacks They have been occasionally met with retaliation from the Houthis With the intervention of Washington and London and escalating tensions the Houthis announced that they consider all American and British ships military targets "\/liveblog_entry\/mks-host-confab-in-eilat-against-increased-oil-imports\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=Ph1fx3_MwaFKePFCFCNr_nH3snr11CilMStLH7ac8qc-1746531996-1.0.1.1-RUixX0DDGg5SKLXdS4wyduSDTUcrKzHRpawn.gpV5MA" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null "\/liveblog_entry\/police-block-roads-leading-into-eilat-to-investigate-possible-security-incident\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=srOicI_NUC_IScEKxrK7Ku_NuotvOzlmbGEZcwkZYtc-1746531999-1.0.1.1-S.TaWrVNA8QK20BHSAdI8Ul3V.0Dp2__2kc4pjAMSCs" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null The Islamic resistance of Iraq has announced a statement declaring it attacked a vital air base at Eilat port (Umm al-Rashrash) with several drones Qodsna - Iraq’s resistance group launched the attacks in line with supporting the Gazans responding to the massacre against the Palestinian civilians and countering the occupying Zionist regime Iraq’s Islamic resistance fighters have targeted Zionist important base in Eilat with drones through several operations The Iraqi resistance group had already warned against continuation of the Israeli regime’s attacks on the Gaza Strip Since the start of war in Gaza in October 2023 prominent figures and university students have called for immediate truce in Gaza The Islamic Resistance of Iraq has said that it attacked a vital air base at the Zionist Eilat port (Umm al-Rashrash) with several drones Qodsna - To resist the Zionist regime's occupation and retaliate the Zionist massacre of Palestinian civilians the fighters of resistance targeted the Zionist regime's military air base in Eilat the Iraqi resistance reported on Wednesday The Iraqi resistance also targeted an important position in the southern occupied Palestine on Tuesday The group had previously warned that it would intensify its operations against the regime's positions if the Zionist regime continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip According to a report released on the 200th day of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm the Iraqi resistance fighters had launched 243 attacks against the Zionist regime in different parts of Iraq have been martyred in Gaza since the start of Zionist genocidal war in the enclave last October Israeli Navy submarine in Eilat | Photo: Hadar Ben Dror An Israeli Navy submarine arrived in The Gulf of Eilat early this morning (Sunday) after an extensive journey This is the first submarine to arrive in the Gulf of Eilat openly since the start of the Iron Swords War, and the Houthis' declaration that they would attack any Israeli vessel in the Red Sea Earlier today, The Israeli Defense Ministry announced that a shipment of heavy aerial bombs docked in Israel after President Donald Trump announced at the end of January that the shipment had been cleared for Israel's use where the munitions were unloaded and transported on dozens of trucks to various Israeli Air Force bases more than 76,000 tons of military equipment have arrived in Israel via 678 flights and 129 shipments by sea marking the largest air and sea lift in Israel's history the goals are that "Gaza will be completely destroyed All its residents concentrated south of the Morag.. the product was described as a "food chopper." Inspection of the actual shipments revealed 1,300.. Israeli Air Force employs some 50 munitions to target Houthi infrastructure in Yemen 24 hours after missile strike close to.. "\/liveblog_entry\/man-convicted-in-eilat-murder-of-young-woman-21-years-later\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=dgZxPrs1JKAJt4MGUQorXDP9NQ1eAY5wH3p.6gn2vpE-1746532025-1.0.1.1-YwDVfQhx9rlZNxGcEs_S6x2vra9HXBOf13T3ZEdL6n0" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null Thousands of liters of crude oil have leaked from the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline since 2019 according to documents obtained by Shomrim through a freedom-of-information request While it seems that the company’s regulations provide a satisfactory response to incidents inside its facilities when leaks happen at more remote locations it’s a very different story – and the potential harm to the environment is much greater the government wants to significantly increase the amount of oil that flows through the pipeline the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company said: ‘We meet the most stringent standards.’ A Shomrim exposé there have been at least 11 leaks in the Israeli pipeline carrying oil between the Red Sea port of Eilat and Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast All were caused by equipment failure and holes in the pipeline there have been nine leaks or other environmental incidents resulting from sabotage These are the findings from documents obtained by Shomrim from the company that operates the 254-kilometer-long pipeline Most of the leaks occurred within the company’s facilities and were contained after no more than a dozen liters of oil had been leaked – but they speak volumes about the poor state of the pipes and other equipment Israel is considering allowing the company to increase the amount of oil it transports every year and there was a meeting on the matter chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Shomrim has obtained a list of the environmental incidents recorded by the company since 2019 as well as the internal investigations that the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company conducted in their aftermath The information was made available after the government scaled back the confidentiality order imposed on the company’s activities and following a request submitted by the Movement for Freedom of Information The list details 20 incidents of various nature and severity occurred in April 2019 when there was a small leak at the company’s terminal in Eilat While working on one of the oil storage tanks a contractor leaned on part of the pipeline being cleaned and repaired there was primarily water inside Work on the storage tank was halted immediately the leak was plugged using technical equipment; 15 liters of contaminated soil were removed from the site the most serious incident on the list happened in August 2021 near Moshav Mishan around 150,000 liters of crude oil leaked from the company’s pipeline Engineers managed to collect around 94,000 liters using vacuums and skimmers and at least 5,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed which happened while the company was repairing a storage tanker that had already been identified as a weak point an official from the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company told Shomrim that the Mishan incident happened during routine operations These are the most dangerous incidents since it necessarily takes time to identify and respond to them – while crude oil continues to gush from the damaged pipeline The investigation into the Mishan incident like that into the 2020 oil leak off the coast of Ashkelon was not submitted as part of the freedom of information request since both incidents are still under criminal investigation by the Environmental Protection Ministry’s enforcement and deterrence arm The Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company only submitted general details with regard to those two incidents along with statements issued by the Environmental Protection Ministry after the incident the company did not submit any information about incidents that were the result of sabotage one of the company’s storage tankers at its Ashkelon depot was damaged by a rocket This incident was not included in the list submitted to Shomrim and it is not possible to know how many other such incidents occurred – if any An analysis of the list of incidents shows that the company’s safety procedures are effective when it comes to leaks within EAPC facilities where incidents are identified as soon as they occur and are dealt with quickly – before they can become major leaks is that not every leak happens in an EAPC facility The worst cases of contamination – the Nahal Zin leak in 2011 when 1.5 million liters of jet fuel leaked and the Evrona nature reserve disaster in 2014 – happened outside the company’s facilities It is no coincidence that the worst leak on the list at a random point along the hundreds of kilometers of pipeline The list can also tell us something about the state of the infrastructure the company uses to transport crude oil the incident was caused by equipment failure – usually a hole or crack in an underground pipe Three of the incidents were caused by sabotage of an exposed pipeline including the above-mentioned rocket in 2021 Human error was the cause in just two of the cases Of the 11 cases that were caused by equipment failure it was specifically noted during the investigation that the pipeline suffered from internal corrosion of the type that is known to eat away at the inner walls of the pipeline and increase the risk of oil leaks Shomrim reported that the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company’s own survey found that certain parts of its pipelines from Eilat to Haifa had lost up to 70 percent of the thickness of the pipeline due to corrosion On one stretch of pipeline between Glilot and Haifa the company found that the pipeline was down to just 15 percent of its original thickness “We noticed that there were many failure incidents [at the EAPC],” Ofri Haziz acting head of the Environmental Protection Ministry’s Department of Prevention of Water Pollution from infrastructure one of the reasons for this is that the company is the only one in Israel whose main activity is transporting crude oil which corrodes the insides of the pipeline which Haziz says is “the main factor that causes damage to the pipeline.” That the Environmental Protection Ministry’s demands of the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company are much stricter than for other companies – sometimes even going further than the international standard “We recognized that there is a risk here for more failure incidents on a much larger scale,” Haziz adds “so we implemented more demands from the company – beyond what we demand of other companies so that we can manage the risk and have a complete picture of the situation.” the ministry demanded that the company examine all the pipelines within its storage container terminal the company dug up the soil adjacent to its pipeline at 250 locations across Israel and there were physical examinations of the protective outer casing of the pipeline the company conducted ultrasound tests to determine the condition of the inner casing of the pipeline international standards demand that these tests be conducted once a decade while the Environmental Protection Ministry is insisting that the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company conduct a repeat test next year the company itself decides to adopt more stringent standards The ministry demands that companies involved in the transportation or storage of fuel conduct periodical safety checks where part of the pipeline is isolated from the rest and the internal pressure is increased for a defined period of time in order to identify leaks The EAPC decided to be more stringent and adopted a system of “smart pigging” tests which sends a kind of robot into the pipeline equipped with diagnostic tools that show engineers the state of the inner casing in real-time The robot is also capable of identifying anomalies and damage to the pipeline have greatly reduced the number of failure incidents,” Haziz says “We are all about managing risks and the more the company adopts and uses these advanced technologies he says that even the most advanced tests cannot guarantee that there will be no accidents including accidents that can lead to an ecological disaster the moment that you use equipment very frequently it is natural that the likelihood of an accident increases we are in favor of maintaining the status quo – let the activity continue and let it be supervised A failure can also be caused by a human and operational component the condition of the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline infrastructure is critical given that the government plans on significantly increasing the amount of oil it transports the company signed an agreement known as the Red-Med deal with companies from the United Arab Emirates whereby it is supposed to increase the amount of oil that the government-owned oil company transports via Israel Implementation of the agreement is expected to generate around $50 million a year in revenue for Israel according to a recent report written by an inter-ministerial team headed by the director general of the Prime Minister’s Office was concerned about potential oil leaks that could devastate the Gulf of Eilat and its ecologically precarious coral reef and adopted a policy of “no-added-risk” in Eilat The ministry refused to amend the company’s license to transport hazardous materials via the Eilat port beyond its current limit – 2 million liters a year – which had the practical result of thwarting plans to increase the amount of crude oil moving through the terminal This policy was adopted during the tenure of the previous minister the government – in a move spearheaded by the director general of the PMO and Minister for Regional Cooperation David Amsalem – tried to reverse the Environmental Protection Ministry’s “no-added-risk” policy essentially bypassing it and ignoring the positions of the experts responsible for issuing hazardous material transportation licenses as did green organizations and the mayors of Eilat and Ashkelon in whose districts the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline terminals are located The issue has been raised several times in cabinet meetings over the past few months but has yet to come to a vote because of the pressure exerted by Silman and the mayors at a meeting chaired by the prime minister and attended by Silman the government will drop its sweeping plan to bypass the authority of the Environmental Protection Ministry and the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company will submit individual requests to the ministry every time it wants to exceed the current limit The ministry will respond to each such request within 60 days The Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company submitted the following response: “The EAPC is owned supervised and controlled by the government which operates in accordance with the guidelines and complies with all the requirements of the law and the most stringent standards; the company has advanced equipment and means The company’s network of pipelines is regularly treated and maintained – and risk-assessment surveys carried out and approved by the Environmental Protection Ministry determined that the company’s pipeline is ‘in good working order.’ All the tests indicate unequivocally that the pipeline is in good working order – as evidenced by the fact that as the documents in your possession also indicate there has been no failure in the national pipeline network resulting from wear and tear or corrosion “The company also uses a ‘smart pigging,’ using a robot that travels along the pipeline and checks its integrity twice as often as the strictest international standard The company investigates and reports every incident transparently and fully to the Environmental Protection Ministry Any populist attempt to link the amount of oil transported to the quantity and severity of leaks is doomed to failure and shows a lack of understanding of how such systems work The EAPC will continue to safeguard the energy security of the security agencies and the citizens of Israel despite the extensive campaign being waged against the company and its dedicated employees.” Shomrim - The Center for Media and DemocracyWe believe investigative journalism is the foundation for safekeeping the fundamental human rights of every Israeli citizen We are committed to investing our time and resources to promote it The Center for Media and Democracy© Copyright The Center for Media and Democracy Inc A whale shark off the coast of Eilat | Photo: Sagi David Kabra A massive whale shark stretching nearly 20 feet in length was spotted last week gliding through the waters of Eilat's coral reserve "I was leading a freediving session in the coral reserve when I suddenly spotted the whale shark I've been fortunate to have many such encounters in the gulf but it had been about six months since my last sighting This magical moment lasted about three and a half minutes." Cabra saw the adult whale shark accompanied by two precious baby sharks Video: The whale shark accompanied by two baby sharks / Credit: Sagi David Kabra these massive fish often venture close to the shore in search of food which is why he cautioned to "let them move freely and avoid touching them There's also a strict prohibition against harming them with any watercraft." the whale shark cuts an impressive figure but poses no threat to humans reflecting their global status as endangered The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed them in its Red List of threatened species the largest accurately measured whale shark was a staggering 41.5 feet long and tipped the scales at over 47,400 pounds many divers are drawn to these peaceful creatures often swimming alongside them and even hitching short rides Whale sharks have been spotted in various locations worldwide their population is facing a worrying decline due to both commercial and recreational hunting practices The whale shark's story in modern science began in April 1828 when it was first identified off the coast of South Africa Its name is a nod to both its impressive size and its unique feeding technique – filtering tiny organisms from the water researchers identify viruses linked to the phenomenon that turns the sea red Specialized unit of young Israeli soldiers working from the Home Front Command headquarters provided vital data analysis that proved instrumental.. The marine mammal became entangled in fishing nets near Al-Qarara's southern shores where fishermen claimed the capture was accidental March 24 (CNA) Taiwan's representative to Israel Abby Lee (李雅萍) recently visited Eilat in southern Israel to promote bilateral exchanges in a variety of fields such as green energy development The visit symbolizes a starting point for cooperation between the two sides Lee told Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri during a discussion held March 20 that centered on environmental sustainability Lee said she was pleased to see the relationship between the cities of both countries strengthen in recent years most notably through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) and the Smart City Summit & Expo she said Taiwan gained invaluable insights into how various local governments in Israel address issues relating to climate change while expressing hope that mutual exchanges continue in the future The Taiwanese envoy also highlighted the 34 cooperation agreements signed between the two countries that cover a wide range of fields attracting around 3 million domestic and international visitors annually adding that the city is currently working to become a smart green energy city with initiatives such as promoting solar power generation and building smart green buildings in order to achieve net-zero carbon emissions Although Eilat's economy faced challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the country's conflict with the Hamas militant group the city is confident that it will be able to revitalize local tourism and warmly welcomes Taiwanese visitors Eilat is Israel's southernmost city located on the northern tip of the Red Sea Eilat not only boasts abundant tourism resources along its bay but has also experienced rapid development in recent years in fields such as smart agriculture