Former Minister's Son Arrested for Illegal Gun Possession Citing Self-Defense

The son of former Israeli minister Amnon Cohen was arrested on suspicion of possessing an unregistered loaded handgun and drugs. The incident occurred last Thursday during a police operation on Highway 44 near Nesher factory, when officers from the Central District's Yasam unit stopped a suspicious vehicle. Upon searching the car, they found a loaded FN pistol without a serial number, believed to be smuggled, along with drugs.

The suspect, a resident of Rehovot in his 40s, admitted to owning the gun and explained during interrogation that his partner was murdered in the October 7 attacks in Nova, and since then he has kept the weapon for self-defense due to fear for his life. Police reported that officers had to break the car window to safely detain the suspect and completed his arrest at Ramla police station. His detention was extended until Tuesday pending further investigation.

The police emphasized the operation was part of ongoing efforts by the Yasam unit to maintain public safety in the Central District. The case remains under investigation with authorities examining all seized evidence.