Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, has enacted a policy shift that permits roughly 300,000 Jewish residents in Jerusalem to seek civilian gun licenses. This expansion moves the state's monopoly on violence toward a decentralized, armed populace. Since Ben-Gvir took control of the policing and firearm bureaucracy, the government has issued over 240,000 new gun licenses across the country.
“We’re the landlords here, remember that, I am your landlord.” — Itamar Ben-Gvir during 2022 clashes in Sheikh Jarrah.
The policy change applies to 41 neighborhoods within the city. The logic presented is one of domestic survival—the arming of the family unit against street-level threats. However, this thick accumulation of private lead in urban zones has triggered a blunt backlash from international observers and domestic legal critics.
The Geography of the Holster
The administrative reach of this order covers a wide map of Jerusalem’s residential pockets. The vetting process for these 300,000 potential shooters is now a matter of internal ministerial procedure rather than traditional military oversight.
Over 240,000 licenses issued since the current term began.
The policy targets neighborhoods including Rehavia, Talpiot, Emek Refaim, and the German Colony.
Ben-Gvir has prioritized the "death penalty for terrorists" as a legislative condition for his party's continued support of the Netanyahu coalition.
| Administrative Metric | Data Point | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem Eligibility | 300,000 Residents | Expanded |
| National Licenses Issued | 240,000+ | Active |
| Criminal Convictions | 8 | Past |
| Turkey Arrest Warrant | 37 Officials (inc. Ben-Gvir) | Nov 7, 2025 |
Friction in the High Court
The National Security Ministry currently exists in a state of legal tangle. The Attorney General has suggested the High Court instruct the Prime Minister to dismiss Ben-Gvir. This comes as the police force itself shows signs of internal rot; a judge recently ruled that Ben-Gvir’s refusal to promote a senior officer was "extremely unreasonable," leading to a contempt motion against the Minister.
Political Resignation: Ben-Gvir recently left the Cabinet in protest of a Gaza ceasefire, only to rejoin weeks later, maintaining his stance against Palestinian statehood.
European Sanctions: The European Union previously cancelled a diplomatic event to prevent Ben-Gvir's attendance, marking a formal avoidance of his "unpalatable" rhetoric.
Prisoner Treatment: Since the October 7 attacks, the detention centers under Ben-Gvir's authority have faced reports of systematic mistreatment.
Background: The Radical Attorney
Ben-Gvir's path to the Cabinet was irregular. He studied law at Ono Academic College, but the Israel Bar Association initially blocked him from the bar due to a criminal record that includes support for a terrorist organization and incitement to racism.
In his earlier years, he was a disciple of the Kahanist movement. While he moderated his public speech to enter the Knesset in the 2020s, his recent actions—ordering the removal of Palestinian flags and branding them symbols of terrorism—suggest the core ideology remains rigid.
Read More: Jerusalem Police Find Guns and Bombs at Illegal Crypto Business
His father’s death and his support for notorious figures like Amiram Ben Uliel form the jagged background of a man who now dictates how, and by whom, the streets of Jerusalem are patrolled. Despite being called "unserious" by former PM Naftali Bennett, Ben-Gvir remains a linchpin in the survival of the current government, using his Otzma Yehudit party's votes as leverage for a harder military and civilian stance.