4 Arrested, 10 Detained in Firearm Licensing Bribe Scheme; Far-Right Minister’s Policy Under Scrutiny
Israeli authorities said on Tuesday they arrested four individuals and detained an additional ten for their alleged involvement in a scheme to unlawfully issue firearm licenses to unqualified applicants. These arrests and detentions come after an extensive undercover operation that lasted several weeks.
Central to this case is a worker from the National Security Ministry’s firearm licensing division, who is accused of trading licenses for bribes orchestrated by other ring members. Police reports indicate that the ministry worker issued firearm licenses in exchange for bribes, which were solicited by other members of the criminal network.
This case has cast a shadow over the policies of the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who has been a vocal advocate for easing firearm license restrictions since his tenure began. His policies, aimed at reducing the requirements for obtaining a license—including lowering military service requirements and broadening eligibility to civilians in various security roles—have led to a surge in applications and the rapid issuance of over 100,000 licenses since the October 7 Hamas terror assault.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel stated that the allegations highlight a severe systemic failure in oversight. They called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the entire decision-making process within the Ministry of National Security, including political oversight, and demanded the cancellation and review of all licenses issued during the period in question. “This is a real threat to human life and public safety,” the Movement for Quality Government emphasized, urging the Israeli government to act swiftly to correct the failings and ensure only qualified individuals are granted firearm licenses.
