Putting more weapons on the streets has made Israel safer, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared on Monday, celebrating the fact that his office has approved 100,000 gun licenses since October 7.
"This week, we reached a milestone at the National Security Ministry: The 100,000th citizen received their firearms license," said Ben Gvir, standing in front of a poster with an image of a handgun and the slogan "100K Israelis armed," ahead of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.
"In fact, out of 299,354 applications submitted since the war...more than 100,000 citizens have already been approved to arm themselves, because weapons save lives," he said.
"We have seen throughout the last months how much a weapon saves lives," he continued, stating "the dimensions of the [October 7] disaster were less" in places where "civilians could protect themselves."
"We have also seen this in recent [terror] attacks, and I think that the work at the National Security Ministry is proving itself," he added.
Asked about concerns relating to crime and domestic violence raised by women’s groups, concerned by the influx of guns in the public sphere, Ben Gvir responded that his ministry is working to make sure that weapons only end up "in the right hands."
Women were raped and murdered on October 7 "because there were not enough weapons," he argued, adding that he had given out permits to "tens of thousands of armed women who can now defend themselves."
Requests for gun permits surged following Hamas
...a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",...’s massive attack, and the National Security Ministry granted temporary authority to approve gun license applications to his personal staff appointees, Knesset employees and others.
Between October 7 and mid-November, more requests for gun permits were filed than in the previous 20 years.
Hebrew daily Haaretz claimed in December that thousands of licenses were granted illegally, and that Ben Gvir intervened personally to help former spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard overcome police and court objections to his obtaining a gun license.
Last November, the United States reportedly delayed a shipment of 4,500 M-16 rifles due to concerns that Ben Gvir would use them to arm settlers in the West Bank and was inappropriately distributing the weapons at political events.
Related:
Itamar Ben Gvir: 2024-03-13 Palestinian boy, 13, shot dead by police in Jerusalem after firing fireworks at them
Itamar Ben Gvir: 2024-03-13 IDF announces terms for West Bank Palestinians’ entry to Temple Mount during Ramadan
Itamar Ben Gvir: 2024-03-11 Police scuffle with worshipers outside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on 1st night of Ramadan
Itamar Ben Gvir: 2024-03-13 Palestinian boy, 13, shot dead by police in Jerusalem after firing fireworks at them
Itamar Ben Gvir: 2024-03-13 IDF announces terms for West Bank Palestinians’ entry to Temple Mount during Ramadan
Itamar Ben Gvir: 2024-03-11 Police scuffle with worshipers outside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on 1st night of Ramadan