Expect to see more armed Israelis on the streets in the coming days following a series of weekend terrorist attacks targeting Jews in and around Jerusalem.
On Friday night, an Arab resident of eastern Jerusalem waited outside a synagogue until the weekly prayer service had ended and then shot and killed seven Jewish worshippers.
On Saturday morning, a 13-year-old Arab boy opened fire on Jews in the City of David at the southern end of Jerusalem’s Old City. Two people, a father and son, were seriously wounded.
Security camera footage of the City of David shooting:
Later that evening, Palestinian terrorists opened fire at a restaurant frequented by Israeli Jews on the road from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. The shooters quickly fled when their gun jammed after just one shot had been fired. There were no injuries.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he wants to see more Israelis armed to both provide a deterrent to Arab terror, and so that people on the scene can more quickly respond without needing to wait for police or soldiers to arrive.
“We must change the firearm policies,” insisted Ben-Gvir, noting that since becoming a Cabinet minister he is no longer permitted to carry a personal weapon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a new policy to expedite and expand the licensing process, but warned Israelis against vigilantism. “We must act decisively and calmly, I urge people not to take the law into their own hands,” he said following Friday night’s attack.
The reaction of Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu echoed a call less than a year ago by former-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for responsible, licensed gun owners to walk the streets armed amidst a wave of Palestinian terror plaguing Israel at that time.
Israelis with valid gun permits who planned to visit synagogues on Saturday morning were encouraged to arrive armed. And messages sent on Sunday morning to residents of many towns and villages surrounding Jerusalem stressed that gun permit holders should remain armed at all times.
Contrary to the popular notion of a society armed to the teeth, Israel has relatively restrictive gun control policies. The Jewish state is not awash in personal firearms, and only around 200,000 or so private citizens have a license to carry. Those wishing to purchase a gun must demonstrate a need for such a weapon, and are limited in the amount of ammunition they can obtain each year.
What is the “Lion’s Den”? A Former Palestinian Terrorist Explains
IN PHOTOS: Israeli Counter-Terror Operation
One Day’s Headlines Reveal the Entire Israeli-Arab Conflict
‘I just want to get back to protecting the people of Israel’
Palestinians Launch Rocket From Jenin for First Time
War on Terror in Realtime
Passover Under Fire: Two Israelis Killed in Jordan Valley Shooting
The ‘Jewish Street’ Finally Explodes
Israel’s Critics Continue to Hold the Jewish State Responsible for Palestinian Terror
War on Terror: Israel Nabs 19 Wanted Terrorists in Massive Operation
Israeli security forces prevent stabbing in Jerusalem’s Old City
Tachles With Aviel – What Happens After the Jerusalem Attack?
New Agreements Are Unlikely to Create Anything New
Israeli Security Forces Kill 3 Palestinian Terrorists in Nablus
Israeli Soldiers Come Under ‘Massive Fire’ During Jenin Counterterror Raid
Lone Wolf Palestinian Terrorists Inspired by Islamist Incitement
Tachles With Aviel – Is There “Jewish Terrorism”?
Terrorists Caught!
Israeli Special Forces Commended for War on Terror
“This is the time to carry a gun,” Bennett tells citizens of Israel
Israelis undergo sea change on need for personal firearms
War on terror: Killers nabbed, Damascus struck
ANALYSIS: Israel Faces Dilemma After Horrific Elad Attack
Israel Braces for Gaza Rockets After Massive Jenin Gun Battle
Death Penalty for Terrorists Passes First Knesset Vote
Terrorist Stabs 2 IDF Soldiers, Neutralized by Armed Civilians
IDF Opens Fire on Stone Throwers – 1 Palestinian Killed
ANALYSIS: Will Israel Launch a Broad IDF Operation in the Biblical Heartland?
The Making of a Palestinian Martyr
Israeli Soldier Killed in Jenin, Hamas Fires Rockets From Gaza
Jewish Shepherd Attacked by Arab Mob in Biblical Heartland
Tensions Between Jews, Arabs Quickly Reach Boiling Point
ANALYSIS: Who organized the recent terror wave in Samaria and Judea?
Inside the Jenin Refugee Camp, the Palestinian ‘Martyr’s Capital’
ANALYSIS: Israel and the Never-Ending War on Terror
Knesset Passes Law to Strip Citizenship of Terrorists
Israel on High Alert as Public Demands Harsher War on Terror
Christians Set the Record Straight on Huwara Riots
‘The History Matters Here:’ Return to Jenin
Four Rockets Fired at Israel After Terrorist’s Hunger-Strike Death
Sharp Rise in Israelis Seeking Gun Licenses
IDF Kills Leader of “Lion’s Den,” 4 Other Terrorists in Raid
Israel, Guns and the Hypocrisy of American Politicians
Muslims Fire Missile at Israel After Jew Visits Temple Mount
‘Attack on the Entire Jewish People’: Israel Furious After Palestinians Assault Biblical Patriarch
Hamas Roar Turns to Whimper as Israeli Jets Pound Gaza Terrorists
Israel Advances Death Penalty for Terrorists
ANALYSIS: Did Israel change its strategy in the fight against Palestinian terror?
Israel Strips Palestinian Authority of Its Ability to Reward Terrorism
2 Shooting Attacks in Judea and Samaria; No Injuries
Hundreds of Israeli Lives Saved by Counter-Terror Operation
Israel Thwarts Assassination of Knesset Member, Bombing of Jerusalem Light Rail
Tachles With Aviel – Chaos in the Right-Wing Coalition
Palestinian Teen Caught Planning to Stab Israelis in Jerusalem’s Old City
Court or Cemetery? The Palestinians Are Thrilled by Those Options
Why Is Israel Presumed Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
Will More Guns Reduce Crime and Terror? Israeli Minister Says Yes
3 Wounded, 1 Critically, in Tel Aviv Terror Shooting
Undeterred Jewish Groups Ascend Temple Mount Amid Passover Violence
Why Israel can’t stop the daily terrorist attacks
American Charity Loses Fundraising Platform Over Palestinian Terror Ties
ANALYSIS: The Aftermath of the IDF Operation in Jenin
Abbas blames America for Israeli counterterror raids
ANALYSIS: What Was Behind Israel’s Latest Military Operation in Jenin?
Escalation or Adaptation? Palestinian Terror Wave Raises Critical Questions
Jewish Settlers Call for IDF Operation Against Palestinian Terror
Jenin Rockets Had No Warheads But Still Spell Trouble
Abu Akleh and Biden’s Pro-Iran Realignment
Israelis in Biblical Heartland Facing Terror Attacks on Hourly Basis
IDF Identifies ‘As Many Targets in a Month as It Did in a Year’
ANALYSIS: Israel Faces Iran-led Terror War in Judea and Samaria
Israel’s Shocking Leniency Toward Arab Terrorists
Israeli Gun Licensing Reforms to Streamline Approval for Permits
Israeli Commandoes Hunt Prey on the Streets of Tel Aviv
Terrorist Shot After Stabbing Bus Passenger
‘Major Offensive in Judea and Samaria May Be Necessary in 2023’
Gaza Rockets Hit Israel Following IDF Operation in Shechem
Israel to Press Ahead Against ‘Nest of Terrorists’ in Jenin
Israel Launches Major Military Operation in Jenin
Israel Asks America to Actually Oppose Palestinian Terrorism
Mossad Abducted Cyprus Hit Squad Head in Iran
Israel Demands Palestinian Authority Actually Act Against Terror Groups
The Unlearned Lessons of 9/11
Israeli Cabinet Mulls Response After Deadly Jerusalem Attack
Wanted Palestinian Terrorist Killed While Attacking Israeli Security Guard
Jenin, the Iranian Terror Stronghold Near Afula
Israel Seizes Cryptocurrency Wallets Linked to Terrorists
Biden Admin Tells Palestinians to Help Israel Fight Terror
ANALYSIS: Israeli Army Scores New Victory in War Against Palestinian Terror
New Palestinian Terror Group Rapidly Gaining Popularity
ANALYSIS: Israel’s Increasing Role in the Global War on Terror
Palestinian Leaders Admit They Work With Terrorists
IDF Arrests 1,500 Terror Suspects in 4 Months
Terrorists Attack Israeli Bus; 3 Female Terrorists Captured on Way to Attack
Codename “Tequila” – Like Fauda, Only Faster
Israel Has a Problem on Its University Campuses, Too
IDF Strikes Missile Launch Site in Lebanon
IDF Kills Murderer of Yaniv Brothers in Purim Day Operation
Jenin Airstrikes a Sign of Deteriorating Security
Israel Weighs Expanding War on Terror in Biblical Heartland
‘Carry a Gun to Shul,’ Israel Police Rabbi Urges
‘Israel Has Gone From Defense to Offense’ in New War on Terror
War on Terror: Israel Sinks Palestinian Boat, Gunmen Killed in Shechem Firefight
No One Has the Right to Second-Guess Israel
New Policy Encourages Armed Israeli Civilians to Engage Terrorists
Police Prevent Mega Attack in Heart of Tel Aviv
Palestinians Planning Terror Attack at Rachel’s Tomb Arrested
Palestinians Besiege Jewish Settlements; Miraculously, No Casualties
For Israel To Be Safe It Must Bury the Oslo Delusion
Israelis urged to carry guns to synagogue during upcoming holidays
Increased American Aid Brings More Palestinian Terror, Study Finds
Israel Today Membership
Monthly Membership
Yearly Membership
Save 18% Per Month.
Six Months Membership
Save 9% Per Month.
One response to “More Israelis Urged to Carry Guns After Weekend of Terror”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I applaud Bibi, while he is doing what is best to defend his people, in the west, the “leaders,” are doing everything they can to disarm the people so the, “leaders,” can protect the criminals and terrorists.