Israel Expands Personal Gun Licensing to Nine New Central Towns

By דסק החדשות C14

Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba

Right

Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Plus

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expanded personal gun license eligibility to nine new central towns, part of a broader reform increasing licensed towns to 126 in 2026 amid changing security concerns.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Itamar Ben-Gvir expands personal gun license eligibility to nine central Israeli towns.
New eligible towns include Kfar Chabad, Tzafria, and Mishmar HaShiv'a among others.
Applicants must meet existing legal criteria to qualify for licenses.
Since 2026, 126 towns have been added to the eligibility list, up from 23 in 2023.
The reform reflects a security policy shift after the October 7 attacks.
Overall, 250 towns have been added since early 2023 under Ben-Gvir's initiative.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has approved the expansion of personal firearm licensing eligibility to nine additional towns in central Israel. The new towns include Kfar Chabad, Tzafria, Mishmar HaShiv'a, Zaytan, Nir Tzvi, Hemed, Yagel, Achi'ezer, and Ganot. Residents of these communities can now apply for gun licenses, provided they meet the legal criteria established by Israeli law.

Ben-Gvir emphasized the policy's goal, stating, "My policy is clear: a weapon in the right hands saves lives." He described the move as part of an ongoing "gun revolution," aimed at enabling more citizens who meet the requirements to protect themselves and their families. This expansion reflects a broader shift in Israeli security policy following the October 7 attacks.

Since the start of 2026, a total of 126 towns have been added to the list of those eligible for personal gun licenses, a significant increase compared to previous years. For context, only 23 towns were added in 2023, 21 in 2024, and 80 in 2025. Overall, 250 new towns have been included in the eligibility circle since early 2023, marking an unprecedented expansion of the gun licensing reform led by Ben-Gvir.

The coverage