Israeli Police Ordered to Prepare for Widespread Arab Rioting

Jerusalem, 11 October, 2023 (TPS) -- Amid fighting on Israel’s southern and northern borders, as well as ongoing attempts to open a front in Judea and Samaria, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday said his ministry was preparing for possible Arab riots in mixed Jewish-Arab cities.

During a visit to the western Negev city of Sderot, one of the communities attacked during Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist assault, Ben-Gvir announced he ordered Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai to make preparations for “a scenario of Guardian of the Walls II, which I think is looming.”

He was referring to the widespread Arab rioting in Israeli cities with large numbers of Arab and Jewish residents that took place during the IDF’s May 2021 aerial operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

During the fighting in Gaza, a Jewish resident of Lod died after Arab rioters pelted his car with rocks.

Over the course of five days, Arabs set fire to 10 synagogues, 112 Jewish houses and 849 Jewish-owned cars. Moreover, 673 Jewish homes were damaged and the apartments of 386 Jewish families were looted. Authorities recorded 5,018 instances of stone-throwing at Jews.

On Saturday morning, Hamas terrorists infiltrated several Israeli communities, killing at least 1,200 people and taking at least 100 hostages back to Gaza. At least 3,000 people were wounded in shootouts and rocket attacks over the weekend, and the toll continues to climb.

The terror group is attempting to incite Arab Israelis to join its war against the Jewish state, Israel Hayom cited an anonymous police official as saying on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Ben-Gvir announced his ministry would immediately start distributing weapons, helmets and bulletproof vests to thousands of security volunteers in mixed cities, border communities and towns in Judea and Samaria.

Civilian security teams will be established in localities that lack them, the National Security Ministry said.

In addition, Ben-Gvir relaxed the restrictions on firearm permits for Israeli civilians. After a telephone interview with the ministry’s Firearm Licensing Department, eligible citizens without a criminal record or health issues can now be issued a gun license within a week.

And starting this week, gun owners will be able to own 100 bullets, up from 50.

The National Security Ministry received more than 7,946 requests to carry arms since Saturday’s shock attack, it said on Wednesday. Over 545 permits for personal handguns have been processed so far.

The ministry said it was hiring 60 additional staff members to address the high demand. In total, some 27,000 permits have been issued since the start of the year.

Israeli citizens do not have a legal right to privately carry firearms and the country has strict gun control laws.

Applicants must meet minimum age requirements, have no criminal record, and provide a declaration signed by a doctor that they are physically and mentally healthy.

Applicants must also explain to the Firearms Licensing Division why they need to carry a gun. The type of gun an Israeli is permitted to carry may depend on the reason given to the authorities.

Permission is not automatic. The Firearm Licensing Division rejected 9,256 requests in 2022.

Licenses must also be renewed every three years. This process includes a health declaration signed by a doctor, confirmation of completing a refresher training course and a firearm check to verify the gun is in working order.