As Citizens Take Up Arms, Israel Become More Vulnerable, Anxious: Report
The scenes of killing and kidnapping in the recent Hamas attack crossing into the soil of Israel seems to be haunting Israelis, both Arabs and Jews, as anxiety and a sense of unease has gripped the country’s citizens. Since the Hamas attack, the application for the gun license has increased tremendously while self-defence classes are attracting more attendees.
The data on the gun license and the increased push for self-defence among the people shows people there have been crippled by fear of potential future attacks as they have already realised the fragility of the country’s security system.
Polls show increased disappointment among the people over the failure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent the onslaught by Hamas, which led to the killing and abductions of citizens.
Living in peace for years without any serious threat, people in Israel had a belief that their country was fortified and couldn’t be reached by its enemies. They had faith in the capacity of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) and the right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the sudden attack which eclipsed their confidence and put a dark mood across the country made them insecure, pushing them to live under constant fear.
According to a Bloomberg report, around 260,000 people applied for a gun license in the past two weeks, and the number of applicants is soaring.
One major concern that many share when the gun license is issued to more people is that it could be used to cause communal tension. Many are worried about the threat of the gun license as it could cause greater violence, creating hurdles for the peaceful coexistence of the Arab-Israel community.
Lawmakers have already demanded strict monitoring and regulation for the issuance of licenses. There had been UN reports of settlers using rifles sent to Israel by the US, creating tension in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank.
However, Roll, a lawmaker from the opposition Yesh Atid party opined that people should to allowed to carry guns after government scrutiny to make them feel secure. He also said the government can withdraw the license after the peace is restored.
As Israel’s offensive on Palestine continues, no one in Israel might assume that the threat will be over someday, pushing the people to live under fear and vulnerability.
