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Source: https://www.inss.org.il/publication/israel-in-the-red-sea/
Israel in the Red Sea: From Threats to Cooperation
(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Yoel Guzansky, Yuval Eylon and Ofir Winter - In October 2023, the Houthi terrorist militia, backed by Iran, began attacking Israeli and international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Prior to the Houthi attacks, merchant ship traffic in the Red Sea accounted for 15% of global traffic and 30% of container traffic. This has shut down Israel's Port of Eilat, which used to handle 2% of the total merchant ship traffic docking in Israel. Egypt also views the Houthi attacks as a direct and serious threat to its national security. The Houthi aggression presents an opportunity to enhance inter-state cooperation against the shared threat in the Red Sea, giving Israel a chance to strengthen its ties with pragmatic Arab states and position itself as a stabilizing force in the region. The international community must address this threat, which endangers global trade, causes immense environmental damage, and harms the strategic interests of countries bordering the Red Sea.