Israel Expands Controversial Gun Licensing Program

(MENAFN) Israel's hardline National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced on Monday an extension of his contentious firearm licensing initiative, enabling an additional 100,000 Israeli citizens to qualify for private gun ownership.

This decision marks a significant increase in the number of individuals permitted to carry firearms under the scheme.

According to a statement from Ben-Gvir’s office, five more localities—Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malakhi, Gan Yavne, Megiddo, and Tel Mond—have been included in the program, allowing their residents to apply for personal gun permits.

The minister, known for his extreme-right views, praised the move as a validation of his approach to national security.

“This reform has saved many lives and shown its effectiveness in the field. It is meant to give citizens the ability to protect themselves and their communities,” he stated.

Since the policy was first rolled out following the onset of the Gaza conflict in late 2023, roughly 230,000 new permits have been distributed.

This figure includes many given to unauthorized settlers residing in the occupied West Bank.

The initiative has sparked increasing concern within Israeli society. Several deadly incidents have occurred in which Israeli civilians mistakenly shot other Israelis, believing them to be Palestinians.

Media reports have also highlighted weaknesses in the screening process, noting that licenses have been issued to individuals deemed unsuitable.

In the occupied West Bank, armed unauthorized settlers—some of whom now carry licensed weapons—have long been accused of violent assaults on Palestinians, including driving families from their homes and appropriating land.

Meanwhile, Israel's prolonged military campaign in Gaza has been accompanied by a surge in settlement construction, home demolitions, and forced relocations in the West Bank.

Critics argue that these developments are laying the groundwork for annexation, severely jeopardizing any remaining hope for a two-state resolution.

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