Israeli minister expands arming of settlers with new licences and preparedness units

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir approved on Wednesday the addition of 18 settlements in the occupied West Bank to the list of communities eligible for personal gun licences, as part of his ongoing “weapons reform” policy.

According to a statement from the Ministry of National Security, the decision applies to settlements in the Shomron, Binyamin, Gush Etzion and the Jordan Valley, including the settlement of Sanur. The move allows residents of these settlements to apply for personal firearms licences and reactivates so-called “preparedness” and personal security teams.

The ministry said the measure is intended to strengthen what it described as settlers’ “self-defence capabilities” and to ensure a rapid response to incidents until the arrival of army or police forces.

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Ben-Gvir said the expansion of gun licences has proven effective, claiming that armed civilians have helped thwart attacks and prevent infiltrations. He added that settlers have a “moral right” to defend themselves and their families, and urged eligible residents to apply for firearms.

Official figures released by the ministry indicate that more than 240,000 settlers have obtained personal gun licences since the launch of the reform, compared with about 8,000 licences issued in the previous year.

The decision has drawn criticism from Palestinian, Arab and international observers, who warn that the continued arming of settlers fuels violence and exacerbates tensions in the occupied West Bank amid an increase in settlement expansion and settler attacks.

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