Editing Eilat (section)

====Israeli–Arab conflict====
Eilat is especially defended by its own special forces unit [[LOTAR Eilat]]. It is a reservist [[Israeli Special Forces Units| special forces unit of the IDF]] trained in counter-terrorism and [[hostage rescue]] in the Eilat area, which has taken part in many counter-terrorist missions in the region since its formation in 1974. The Lotar unit is composed solely of reservists, citizens who must be Eilat residents between the ages of 20 and 60, who are on call in case of a terrorist attack on the city. It is one of only three units in the IDF authorized to free hostages on its own command.<ref>[http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=857 The real 24: An inside look at an elite IDF anti-terror unit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702134452/http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=857 |date=2015-07-02 }} Friday August 26, 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/02/10/5-things-didnt-know-eilat-counterterrorism-unit/ |title=5 Things You Didn't Know about the Eilat Counterterrorism Unit |access-date=2018-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220121937/https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/02/10/5-things-didnt-know-eilat-counterterrorism-unit/ |archive-date=2016-02-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2007 the [[Eilat bakery bombing]] killed three civilian bakers.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/world/middleeast/29cnd-mideast.html?hp&ex=1170133200&en=672e889f68796e72&ei=5094&partner=homepage ''Suicide Bomb Kills 3 in Bakery in Israel''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215132835/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/world/middleeast/29cnd-mideast.html?hp&ex=1170133200&en=672e889f68796e72&ei=5094&partner=homepage |date=2018-12-15 }} – The New York Times, Jan 29, 2007</ref><ref name="warned">{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/eilat-driver-warned-police-about-terrorist-minutes-before-attack-1.185514 |title=Eilat driver warned police about terrorist minutes before attack |newspaper=Haaretz |date=April 17, 2006 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201084854/https://www.haaretz.com/news/eilat-driver-warned-police-about-terrorist-minutes-before-attack-1.185514 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the first such attack in Eilat proper,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=49624 |title=Peretz orders IDF to prepare for operations in Gaza |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=January 29, 2007 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215064335/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=49624 |url-status=live }}</ref> although other terror attacks had been carried out in the area.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/819130.html |title=Past terror attacks in the Eilat area |newspaper=Haaretz |date=January 29, 2007 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-date=April 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418064135/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/819130.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2011, terrorists infiltrated Israel across the [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]] border to execute multiple attacks on Highway 12, including a civilian bus and private car a few miles north of Eilat, in what became known as the [[2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks]].<ref name="Haaretz1.382132">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/september-songs-1.382132|work=Haaretz|date=September 2, 2011|title=September songs|first=Amos|last=Harel|access-date=March 18, 2012|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925002312/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/september-songs-1.382132|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Wyre Davies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10807166|title='One killed' after rockets strike Jordan and Israel|publisher=BBC|date=August 2, 2010|access-date=January 28, 2011|archive-date=September 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916182019/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10807166|url-status=live}}</ref>

In order to prevent terrorist infiltration of Israel from the Sinai, Israel has built the [[Egypt–Israel barrier]], a steel barrier equipped with cameras, radar and motion sensors along the country's southern border.<ref>{{cite news|title=On Israel's uneasy border with Egypt, a fence rises|author=Joel Greenberg|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/on-israels-uneasy-border-with-egypt-a-fence-rises/2011/11/28/gIQAZt19JO_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2011-12-02|access-date=2012-03-25|archive-date=2012-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319093357/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/on-israels-uneasy-border-with-egypt-a-fence-rises/2011/11/28/gIQAZt19JO_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The fence was completed in January 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=On Israel-Egypt border, best defense is a good fence|author=Amos Harel|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/on-israel-egypt-border-best-defense-is-a-good-fence-1.395239|newspaper=Haaretz|date=2011-11-13|access-date=2012-01-07|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201145751/https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/on-israel-egypt-border-best-defense-is-a-good-fence-1.395239|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[Gaza war]] and ensuing [[Red Sea crisis]], the port saw an 85% reduction in volumes and by 12 July 2024 the port of Eilat declared bankruptcy resulting in it seeing no economic activity or revenue for eight months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240716-israel-says-eilat-port-bankrupt-after-months-houthi-naval-blockade/|title=Israel says Eilat Port 'bankrupt' after months of Houthi naval blockade|date=2024-07-16|access-date=2024-07-21|website=Middle East Monitor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716194526/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240716-israel-says-eilat-port-bankrupt-after-months-houthi-naval-blockade/|archive-date=2024-07-16|url-status=live}}</ref>