Ben Gvir Excludes "Neturei Karta" from Weapon Eligibility: "Whoever Takes Pictures with Terrorists Is an Enemy"
Beit Shemesh has been recognized as an "eligible locality" for gun licenses, but residents of specific streets in the Hefziba and Rama Bet neighborhoods, where radical "Neturei Karta" members reside, have been excluded from the decision.
As part of the expansion of the weapons reform, the city of Beit Shemesh has been approved as an "eligible locality" for the purpose of licensing firearms, with the exception of a number of streets where "Neturei Karta" members reside. The decision was made following staff work and a professional review by the Israel Police and the Firearms Licensing and Inspection Division.
Following this decision, residents of the city living in the approved areas will be able to submit an application for a personal weapons license based on the residency criterion, subject to meeting the threshold conditions and the licensing procedure. As noted, the approval will not apply to a number of streets in the Hefziba and Rama Bet neighborhoods, where "Neturei Karta" members reside.
This move continues the policy of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, to issue a large number of permits for carrying weapons throughout the country. For example, in 2021, only 6 localities were recognized as eligible for weapons, while in 2019, 2020, and 2022, no localities were approved. In contrast, 23 localities were recognized in 2023, 21 in 2024, 80 in 2025, and 126 have already been recognized since the beginning of 2026.
Since the expansion of the reform, approximately 300,000 citizens have received a personal weapons license, and over 200 localities have been recognized as eligible for weapons.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir stated:
"I am proud to continue the weapons revolution and expand it to Beit Shemesh as well. The normative residents of Beit Shemesh, who love the State of Israel, have a basic right to protect themselves and their family members. We will continue to expand the weapons reform, add more cities, localities, and neighborhoods to eligibility, and ensure that as many citizens as possible can protect themselves and the State of Israel. My policy is clear: weapons in the right hands save lives! But whoever prides themselves on the PLO flag and takes pictures with terrorists is an enemy, and therefore the neighborhoods of the extremists were excluded from eligibility for weapons."
