Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Monday cleared personal firearms licenses for residents of 41 Jerusalem neighborhoods, making more than 300,000 Jewish people in the holy city eligible to obtain a gun amid the ongoing war with Iran.
According to a report by The Times of Israelthe move essentially counts as a blanket eligibility for a gun license for all residents of Jerusalem, regardless of whether they are, or have been, a member of Israel’s security forces.
“Precisely in the shadow of the war and during Ramadan, Jerusalem residents have a basic right to defend themselves and their families,” said the minister, calling on Jerusalem residents to obtain a gun license.
“Firearms in the hands of responsible citizens constitute an important component in strengthening personal security and enabling an initial response to terror and crime,” Ben Gvir reasoned, adding, “In many cases, it has already been proven that a weapon in the hands of citizens helped thwart attacks and save lives.”
“I call on the residents of Jerusalem: Go get a firearm license. A weapon saves lives!,” the minister said in his statement, calling on people of the city to apply for licenses at the earliest.
The 41 Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem for which the move has been announced will join Har Nof, Givat Shaul, Neve Yaakov and Gilo — four neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city — as areas in which residents are eligible to obtain a firearms license.
The move comes amid growing demand for access to firearms, which has been strong since the October 7, 2024 attacks by Hamas, which killed over 1,000 Israelis.
In the wake of the October 7 attacks and growing requests for gun permits, the National Security Ministry also granted temporary authority to Ben Gvir’s personal staff appointees, some Knesset employees, and others to approve gun license applications.
The move is also a continuation of firearms policy under Ben Gvir, which has armed over 240,000 Israelis — “an unprecedented number” — since his appointment.
