The battle for Eilat begins in the Red Sea: The plan that will change the balance against the Houthis | Dr. Ofer Israeli
Dr. Ofer Israeli calls on Israel to lead an international framework to ensure safe passage in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb against the Houthis. The article presents a strategy including intelligence, defense, and the use of air and naval firepower, while avoiding Israeli ground forces. Political dividends are required, including normalization with Saudi Arabia and security agreements with Europe.
Dr. Ofer Israeli, in an opinion piece in Maariv, argues that Israel must initiate and lead an international framework to ensure safe passage in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb, as part of the struggle against the Houthis. The proposed strategy includes providing intelligence, warning, command and control capabilities, and defense, and if necessary, activating firepower through the Air Force and Navy, while completely avoiding the deployment of Israeli ground forces. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates may contribute naval and air forces, and holding the territory will rely on Yemeni forces. The article emphasizes that leading the effort must yield significant political dividends for Israel, including gradual steps toward normalization with Saudi Arabia and long-term security and technological cooperation agreements with European countries. Israeli warns of the danger of deteriorating into a war of attrition, and states that success will be measured by a sustained decrease in attacks and the scale of armament, and by the return of safe commercial shipping, including to Eilat. Shipping companies will need sustained security to return.