Israel’s Weapon Reform: Caesarea and Upper Galilee Added to “Priority Zones” List
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has officially approved the expansion of the list of localities whose residents are eligible for personal firearm permits. The updated registry now includes cities such as Arad, Rosh Pinna, and Caesarea, as well as numerous kibbutzim in the Hefer Valley and Upper Galilee. This decision is based on recent police operational assessments and recommendations from the ministry’s licensing department, taking into account the current security situation in these regions.
Caesarea has drawn significant media attention. Under the new regulations, residents of this affluent community now meet the eligibility criteria, which automatically enables the Prime Minister’s family members — Sara and Yair Netanyahu — to legally acquire firearms. The ministry emphasized that the decision is strictly professional, driven by the need to bolster civilian self-defense in areas deemed potentially vulnerable.
Minister Ben-Gvir is actively encouraging eligible citizens to apply for licenses without delay. In his view, armed civilians serve as a vital line of defense capable of neutralizing attacks in their opening seconds. To date, the large-scale campaign to arm the population has shown unprecedented results: since the reform’s inception, Israelis have obtained over 250,000 new licenses, a figure that continues to rise as the program’s geographic reach expands.
