Security hole at Israel's busiest train station: "Whoever wants to carry out an attack won't have to try hard"
A radio host reported that on two Thursday evenings in July 2026, the X-ray machines at the northern entrance of Tel Aviv HaShalom station were not working, and passengers were checked manually. He claimed this poses a security risk, as manual checks are slower and less reliable. Israel Railways said every passenger undergoes a security check according to guidelines.
Yoav Mintz, host of the program "Caffeine" on Radio North 104.5FM, reported that on two Thursday evenings, July 23 and 30, 2026, the X-ray machines at the northern entrance of Tel Aviv HaShalom railway station were not operational, and passengers were checked manually. Mintz said that on July 23, at around 20:00, he found the machines covered and shut down, and when he asked a security guard why, he was told, "We're also asking why." He added that he did not notice an armed guard outside the station. A week later, on July 30, near 21:00, he returned to the same entrance, and again the machines were not working, with only one guard present, who replied that "the operator had finished her shift." Mintz claimed that manual checks are slower and less reliable, and that during peak hours a line of at least ten passengers formed. He stressed that X-ray machines are a vital security measure for detecting weapons, and that "whoever wants to carry out a serious attack at Tel Aviv HaShalom station won't have to try very hard." Tel Aviv HaShalom station is considered one of the busiest in Israel, with about 17.2 million passengers in 2025. Israel Railways responded that every passenger undergoes a security check according to police and security forces' guidelines, using overt and covert means, and that the X-ray machines operate according to situational assessments.