National Security Minister Approves Gun Licenses for Most of Beit Shemesh

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has approved the inclusion of most of the city of Beit Shemesh in the list of localities eligible for firearm licenses. This decision comes over a year after an incident where Ben-Gvir was attacked by extremists while removing Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) flags in the city's Ramah Bet neighborhood. However, specific streets in the Hefetzba and Ramah Bet neighborhoods, identified by the minister as associated with extremist elements, have been excluded from this eligibility.

The decision means residents living on approved streets can apply for personal firearm licenses based on residency in an eligible locality. The application does not guarantee a license, as all applicants must still meet the preliminary conditions and other requirements of the licensing process. The Ministry of National Security stated that the decision followed professional review by the Israel Police and the department responsible for firearm licensing and supervision.

Excluded streets in Hefetzba include Ben Ish Hai, Yosef Caro, Rav Sadka Yehuda, Hafez Chaim, Ben Zion Abba Shaul, and Hida. On Levi Eshkol Street, buildings numbered 2-8 and 61-75 are excluded. In Ramah Bet, excluded streets are Rav Akiva, Rashbi, Hillel, Rav Leivits, Yehuda HaNasi, Rashbag, Rav Yehoshua, Mitzpe HaPLÖ, Admor miBelz, Machzikei Hadat, Techelet Mordechai, Ohel Yehoshua, Kedushat Aharon, Dvor Shalom, Rav Pinchas ben Yair, and Herzog Boulevard. All other streets and neighborhoods in Beit Shemesh are included.

The Ministry of National Security highlighted a significant increase in the expansion of eligible localities in recent years. While only six localities were recognized in 2021, and none in 2019, 2020, and 2022, the numbers rose to 23 in 2023, 21 in 2024, 80 in 2025, and 126 in early 2026. Since the reform's expansion, approximately 300,000 citizens have received personal firearm licenses, and over 200 localities have been recognized as eligible.

Minister Ben-Gvir stated, "I am proud to continue the gun revolution and expand it to Beit Shemesh as well. The normative residents of Beit Shemesh, like all citizens of Israel who love the State of Israel, have a basic right to defend themselves and their families." He added, "We will continue to expand the gun reform, add more cities, localities, and neighborhoods to eligibility, and ensure that as many citizens as possible can defend themselves and the State of Israel." Ben-Gvir emphasized, "My policy is clear: guns in the right hands save lives! But anyone who boasts about the PLO flag and poses for photos with terrorists is an enemy, which is why the extremist neighborhoods were excluded from gun eligibility."