Itamar Ben Gvir on National Security

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir strongly champions the expansion of civilian access to firearms as a core component of national security, framing it as a basic right for self-defense. He has overseen significant reforms to Israel's firearm regulations, notably clearing over 41 Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem for personal firearms licenses based solely on residence, thereby making roughly 300,000 more Jewish residents eligible for a gun permit. He has also boasted that since his efforts began, the government has issued over 240,000 new firearms licenses nationwide, emphasizing that armed citizens provide an essential initial response to terror and crime, especially during periods of heightened tension like war or Ramadan.

This push for greater civilian armament is framed within his broader hard-line security ideology, which often contrasts with established police and judicial recommendations on internal security matters. The minister has actively sought to increase gun ownership across the country, sometimes granting temporary authority to his staff to approve applications. While proponents cite instances where armed civilians have thwarted attacks, critics have warned that the ease of obtaining licenses increases domestic risk, particularly concerning domestic violence incidents.