The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” reported that Israel has registered more than 250,000 new applications for a license to possess firearms since the attack of last October 7.
The Israeli newspaper added that this number exceeds what was recorded in the past 20 years combined, pointing out that the data indicate that arming civilians “will not make Israel safer, but on the contrary.”
Haaretz reports that since the formation of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December 2022, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and his “Jewish Greatness” party have defended arming civilians in Israel and easing the conditions for the use of firearms by civilians.
Following the outbreak of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” battle on October 7, Netanyahu supported Ben Gvir’s approach, saying that arming civilians “will contribute to the fight against terrorism.”
Two months ago, Ben Gvir launched a policy of distributing weapons to civilians in Israel and also settlers in the West Bank, under the pretext of preventing Palestinian attacks.
Internal criticism
The Israeli Minister of National Security indicated the distribution of thousands of weapons in various areas of Israel in addition to settlers in the West Bank, but his policies drew Israeli and international criticism.
Last Monday, Israel Avisher, head of the Firearms Licensing Division of the Israeli Ministry of National Security, submitted his resignation from his position, which prompted Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to attack him. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that the head of the division justified his resignation by rejecting Minister Ben Gvir’s actions and distributing weapons without standards to citizens. .
The authority added that last week, Avisher admitted in a hearing in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) that people were appointed without certificates to issue weapons licenses to Israelis.
Avisher is the third senior employee to resign from his position in the ministry in protest against Ben Gvir’s policy.
