The barrage of gunfire echoes off a hill in an Israeli settlement western shore busy, between shooting ranges and a store full of weapons. Amid a serious upsurge in conflict with the Palestinians, more and more Israeli civilians They’re processing permits to carry weapons.
The growing demand for obtaining licenses It is evident in the companies that give courses and sell regulated handgunssuch as Caliber 3, a training center in counter-terrorism techniques for the military and public and private security forces, which also offers education to civilians.
Israelis who go to the company to get weapons have multiplied this year, “with an increase of almost 100%” in the number of customers, Sharon Gat, a veteran elite soldier and founder of Caliber 3, points out to EFE, who defends the need for more civilians to be armed for their own defense and “to protect the people”.
“Also When I go to take out the trash I take my gunbecause if there were a terrorist attack and I couldn’t react, I would commit suicide”, remarks Gat, in the midst of the warlike atmosphere of his facilities, where soldiers, security personnel and even tourists walk, who are offered shooting experiences and tours Shooting Martial content in training camps.
More gun sales
“The last few months have been crazy” and company it was selling 1,500 guns a month across its five locationssays Gat, which offers guns between 3,300 and 6,000 shekels (between 809 and 1,491 euros).
As he explains, these weapons can only be purchased with a permit that must have several checks by the authoritiesunlike the US, where the rules are much looser.
Only one handgun per civilian is permitted in Israel e must be semi-automatic: Small handguns seen tucked into the pants of many Israelis as they walk down the street.
One of the requirements is to have military training – millions of Israelis have it for having done their compulsory military service – or be at least 27 years old and live in a “sensitive” security zone.”, in places such as settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
military mentality
In a military-minded country where safety is paramount and the use or possession of weapons is normalizedThe number of armed Israeli civilians has increased this year as the conflict with the Palestinians has escalated.
In the recent attacks by Palestinians or Arab-Israelis in Israel and the settlements, there have been instances where armed civilians have shot and detained the attackersMany of them died on the spot.
For their part, the Israeli authorities have been urging for a long time its citizens to obtain permits to carry weapons, and the Ministry of National Security, led by the far-right Itamar Ben Gvir, has streamlined the bureaucratic process to obtain them.
“We will do everything we can to enable all those who meet the criteria to obtain weapons permits,” the far-right minister said recently.
According to the local newspaper Walla, since February about 12,000 new permits were approveda figure that contrasts with the average of 13,000 licenses issued annually between 2016 and 2021.
more weapons
In Israel, with 9.7 million inhabitants, at least 170,000 civilians have a weapons licenseaccording to Gat, which believes that the thousands of people who have served in some specialized units of the army and who already have adequate training to handle weapons should receive fast-track permits.
According to the local press, Ben Gvir has a strategy in this sense, and in April he ordered some measures – pending approval by a parliamentary commission for security – so that ex-combatants, policemen or firefighters who have left the their place in the past five years they have some exemptions when processing their license.
In February, he also ordered to strengthen the National Security Ministry’s staff and increase working hours to increase permit issuance.
controversial plan
However, his plan is controversial and there are groups that believe it will increase gun ownership it will not lead to increased security.
Indeed, since the beginning of the year, when Ben Gvir took office, gun crimes and homicides they doubled, especially among the majority Arab population.
The Civil Rights Association in Israel warns that it can also lead to an increase in suicides, homicides and violent acts, as well as exacerbate feminicides. Between 2019 and 2021, nine of the 32 women killed by gunfire in Israel were killed by people with a gun license.
Furthermore, some of the recent attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, some of them fatal, They have been with a firearm.
The Israeli organization Yesh Din denounces it in a study there was only one conviction in 107 cases7 percent of 1,531 investigations concluded into cases of political violence against Israeli citizens in the occupied territories, which they attribute to a systemic deficiency in police investigations.
Even so, Gat ensures that the process of verifying who gets a gun is reliable. “If we have responsible civilians who are not criminals or terrorists and are physically and mentally fit, why not give them permission?” he concludes.
EFE agency
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.