Within 48 hours of the heinous attacks on October 7th, the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, has led an expansive civilian armament campaign with very clear notions: All of Arab society on both sides of the Green Line pose a threat to everyone’s safety. He emphasizes that police alone cannot protect Jewish Israelis and therefore private civilians need to be armed and ready. The Minister is profiting off Israeli’s sense of insecurity to pursue his doctrine of civilian armament, likely to have a very harsh long-term impact on a number of vulnerable population groups, including Arab society in Israel, Palestinian residents of the Occupied Territories and East Jerusalem, as well as women and people at risk of suicide.
On October 6, 2023, there were approximately 150,000 individuals in Israel with licenses to carry a weapon. Individuals eligible for firearm licenses included only those working in agriculture fields, individuals who held the rank of Lieutenant Officer or higher in their military service, and individuals with demonstrable and specific justifications for firearm possession. Today, there are approximately 230,000 individuals with firearm licenses, and based on approval rates, it is anticipated that this number will soon reach over 300,000. Eligibility requirements have expanded dramatically, they now include those who served in a combat unit and participated in reserve duties within the last 20 years, anyone related to an agricultural member, the field itself, or living nearby with no requirement to prove any personal need or threat. Moreover, a lack of regulation on possession, storage and training makes civilian armament a recipe for disaster, posing extreme human rights risks to those most in need of protection.
Ben Gvir’s campaign also includes the expansion of civilian security squads. For decades, civilian squads of armed volunteers have been operating in Israeli border communities. Prior to October 7th, there were 70 civilian security squads in existence, predominantly in border communities which aided quickly to individuals affected by the atrocities of October 7th, saving entire Kibbutzim and protecting thousands of civilians. However, By the end of December 2023, 800 new squads had been established. Each squad has 10-15 volunteers of military background who received a rifle after completing just seven hours of training. The volunteers then have the full powers of a police officer for events that are very broadly defined as "hostile incidents". The establishment of so many squads reflects the privatization of a critical governmental function to civilian entities, whose approval and training procedure is inadequate. Of greatest concern is the abuse of power by armed volunteers, particularly in mixed cities. The presence of Jewish civilian security patrols monitoring their Arab neighbors puts the lives of Arab citizens at risk, forcing them to live in a perpetual state of fear.
Together with the ongoing incitement against Arab citizens, and the legitimization of a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy of suspects in security incidents, there is a huge risk to the lives of the Arab citizens of Israel. We have already seen incidents of shooting of trespassers that were misidentified, while the shooter believes it is justified to shoot-to-kill, given the Ben Gvir’s statements. An increase in firearms will also be particularly dangerous to women and children who have violent partners or family members, posing a constant threat to their personal safety. In 2023, there were 22 cases of femicide, of which 20% were killed by firearms. The number of soldiers allowed to go home with their weapons was drastically reduced in 2006, following a dramatic rise in suicides involving the use of military weapons. Subsequently, incidents of suicide by soldiers reduced by 40 percent, demonstrating that access to firearms plays a critical role in enabling suicide. Moreover, civilian armament is likely to increase numbers of femicide and suicide exponentially.
ACRI has issued legal correspondence to the Attorney General and the Head of the Firearms Division in the Ministry of National Security ACRI has called for strict supervision and oversight of the firearm licensing process and that the impact of temporary regulations be thoroughly examined before being extended or made permanent.
For more information on ACRI's legal work regarding civilian armament click here.
As Ben Gvir is investing in arming civilians, ACRI is intensifying our efforts in the fight for safety and personal security. We urgently seek your support.