Quick Read
- Itamar Ben-Gvir has authorized residents of all Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem to apply for firearm permits based on residency.
- The policy expansion encompasses 41 neighborhoods, potentially affecting 300,000 residents who were previously ineligible.
- The ministry is currently under investigation for allegedly granting hundreds of permits through staff who lacked legal authority.
JERUSALEM (Azat TV) – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has announced a major expansion of firearm license eligibility, allowing residents of all Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem to apply for permits based on their place of residence. The move, confirmed on Monday, adds approximately 300,000 residents across 41 neighborhoods to the list of those qualified to carry weapons, a policy change that arrives amid heightened regional tensions during the month of Ramadan.
Expanding Firearm Access in Jerusalem
Previously, eligibility for gun licenses based on residency was restricted to neighborhoods located near the occupied West Bank. By broadening these criteria, Ben-Gvir’s policy now encompasses areas such as Talpiot, Mea She’arim, and the German Colony. The minister defended the expansion, asserting that firearms in the hands of citizens serve as a critical tool for initial responses to terror and criminal activity. According to The Times of Israel, Ben-Gvir emphasized that the decision followed a review by police officers in the Firearms Licensing Division, stating, “This saves lives.”
Legal Challenges and Administrative Oversight
The expansion occurs against a backdrop of intense legal scrutiny regarding the management of the ministry’s licensing department. The New Arab reports that Israeli authorities recently informed the Supreme Court that flaws were identified in 195 gun licenses issued during Ben-Gvir’s tenure. A petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government has challenged the validity of these permits, alleging that they were approved by political appointees and ministry staff who lacked the formal legal authority to grant them.
Police have questioned several employees from Ben-Gvir’s office, including the minister’s former nominee for legal adviser to the Israeli police, on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust. These investigations center on whether staff members bypassed standard regulatory procedures to accelerate the distribution of weapons. The head of the ministry’s firearms department, Yisrael Avishar, resigned following the initiation of these inquiries.
Societal Impact and Security Concerns
The shift in policy represents a continuation of the aggressive relaxation of gun laws that began in 2023. While supporters argue that the move empowers vulnerable communities—including ultra-Orthodox populations that previously did not complete military service—critics have raised alarms about the potential for increased domestic violence. Anti-domestic violence organizations have noted that the rise in firearm availability correlates with concerns over safety in private settings, particularly following a year that saw a significant number of femicides.
The persistence of this policy expansion despite pending judicial investigations underscores a deepening divide within the Israeli government regarding the limits of executive authority in security matters and the long-term implications of normalizing widespread civilian firearm ownership.