Israel’s security cabinet has approved measures to make it easier for Israelis to carry guns after two separate attacks by Palestinians in Jerusalem over the past two days.
The attacks took place after an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank killed nine people.
The new measures also include depriving an attacker’s family members of residency and social security rights. The full cabinet is due to consider the measures on Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised a “strong” and “swift” response ahead of the security cabinet meeting.
Israel’s army also said it would be reinforcing troop numbers in the occupied West Bank.
“When civilians have guns, they can defend themselves,” the controversial far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, told reporters outside a Jerusalem hospital.
The measures will revoke the rights to social security of “the families of terrorists that support terrorism”, the security cabinet said.
The unit was launched in October 2021 with a focus on high-impact crimes, such as car thefts and gang-related offences. The five officers were fired last week.
Credit: bbc.com
