Israeli security officials and residents of settlements along the eastern border have warned of the risk of a large-scale armed infiltration from Jordan, describing the situation as a “ticking time bomb” that could erupt at any moment and lead to a scenario similar to the 7 October attack.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, security officials have expressed deep concern over what they described as significant security gaps along the eastern border. They said the frontier is Israel’s longest and most vulnerable border, remaining exposed to infiltration amid ongoing smuggling operations and what they characterised as inadequate surveillance.
The broadcaster also reported that residents of nearby settlements believe an armed incursion into their communities is only a matter of time. Dekel Yosef, the security coordinator for the settlement of Yardena, said such a scenario was inevitable and warned that the current level of negligence could allow it to occur on any given day.
Meanwhile, Meir Tzur, head of the Central Arava Regional Council, criticised the lack of military presence in the area. He said the limited deployment of Israeli forces represents the most significant security failure, pointing to the continued flow of cross-border smuggling operations and the near absence of routine military patrols and inspections, according to the broadcaster.
