Posted on 06/06/23
| News Source: Arutz-7
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) has decided to change the criteria for receiving a license to carry private weapons, allowing - for the first time - hesder yeshiva students to apply for licenses.
Under the new policy, the criteria are expected to change to allow soldiers who serve as yeshiva students and combat soldiers who were released early due to injuries, to request a weapons license.
These individuals would be eligible to request a license so long as they are over age 21, served at least a year as fighters in the IDF, and live, work, or study in an eligible town.
Until now, hesder yeshiva students who serve in combat units were not eligible to request a license to carry private weapons, since they do not meet the criteria of "completed military service as outlined under the law." With the proposed changes, the injustice towards hesder students who meet the criteria of "live in an eligible town" or "work or study in an eligible town" will be corrected.
"What we are doing here is a process which will save lives - allowing soldiers who serve in the defense forces, hesder soldiers and Magen David Adom volunteers, to provide a solution in real time and save lives," Ben Gvir said. "And in addition, we are correcting a years-long injustice and allowing fighters who protect the State of Israel to protect themselves and their lives and the lives of their families."