National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir approved the expansion of prerequisites for new immigrants to acquire firearms in eligible settlements such as those in the Judea and Samaria area. He also approved the repeal of the regulation requiring a three year waiting period from the moment of immigration. The change will be published in the coming days in the official records and then go into force.
The Samaria Legal Council has absorbed immigrants in communal form for some five years now. The immigrants arrived at the settlements of Bruchin, Revavah, Yakir, and Paduel. The Council absorbed more than 00 families from France, including 11 families who came to Yakir in the last summer, as well as Ukrainian immigrants fleeing the war.
The immigrants appealed to the Samaria Council Head, Yossi Dagan, asking that Minister Ben Gvir approve the change to the regulations, which he did.
Yossi Dagan: Critical Relief Which Will Add to the Sense of Security
Samaria Council Head Yossi Dagan congratulated the minister for the decision, saying: “I congratulate the minister for the important decision. This is critical relief which will add weapons for new immigrants who came from France and Ukraine to Samaria. Good and Zionist people, salt of the earth, who also want to protect themselves and also be part of the defense of the country. A gun license can add to the sense of security and the security of the immigrants and of the residents.”
"At a time when everyone carrying a gun is critical in the fighting, the limitation of three years of waiting for a new immigrant who has all the permits, the absence of a criminal record, a health permit, and all the needed conditions, was not relevant in routine times and certainly not today. I thank minister Ben Gvir for his quick agreement – from the moment I spoke with him, he immediately took it upon himself to solve the issue and he solved the problem in an unprecedented amount of time.”
People Want to Take Part in the War Effort
Meir Mizrahi, a new immigrant who came to Israel with his wife and six children from France to Yakir in Samaria just two months ago, explained their request and the importance of the decision. He said that “This is a very important decision which makes things easier for us and our families. We felt a lack of security, we worry about our families; the gun is small insurance, for us. We want to take part in the war effort, to protect the settlement. To feel we are a part. And that we can help.”
He also added on making Aliyah two months before the outbreak of the war: “I’m not at all sorry I made Aliyah to the country. Despite the war, I prefer to be here and not abroad. I feel that here is home. Here I can be Jewish how I want.”
