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Guns, or Lack of Them, in Israel-Do we have to say never again – again?
Frontpagemagazine ^ | 10-25-23 | Barney Brenner

Posted on 10/25/2023 7:48:06 AM PDT by SJackson

After the atrocities perpetrated in Israel this last week, questions arise about how such an intelligence failure could have occurred, how the Israeli military, which is assumed by many to be ubiquitous, did not do a better job at more quickly and effectively repelling the invasion, and perhaps most perplexing of all, why families and towns in close proximity to a territory run by terrorists did not seem to have the means for self-defense.

Thomas Jefferson made the point over 200 years ago that it is the right and duty of citizens to be at all times armed. How much more so for a people not protected by an Atlantic ocean but within view of terrorists who want them dead?

Are the people of Israel subjects and not citizens?

Imagine the difference it would have made in the 1930s and ‘40s in Nazi Germany and elsewhere in Europe (or anywhere else, genocide was perpetrated, for that matter) if Jewish individuals and families were able and willing to fight back. Although one could argue that the Jewish mindset in Germany at that time was one of complacency or resignation, as the prior 1800-plus years of the diaspora was a repressive history of exile, abuse, murder, and massacre. Ever since the Romans’ final suppression of Israelite resistance in the 130s, the Jews were largely a defenseless people subject to the whims or depredations of their “host” countries.

Not anymore. Or do we have to say never again – again?

Because of images of Israeli defense forces carrying their weaponry on the streets, much of the world likely believes gun ownership is common or even proliferates in Israel. But such is not the case. With the exception of active military, police, and personnel in security services, only single-digit percentages out of a private citizen Jewish population of over seven million are licensed to have a firearm. That fact is an unforgivable oversight and should never have been the case. In a country where virtually all young adults go through compulsory conscription, almost all families have members trained to use firearms. So why isn’t there a means of self-defense in every household?

You could make the case that the level of barbarity in Nazi Germany was unprecedented and unforeseeable. Not so with the present situation in modern Israel. For years, terrorists had been crossing the border from the West Bank and perpetrating bus bombings and other atrocities. But since the construction of the West Bank border barrier, those events have ended mainly. But the terrorists running Gaza are no less barbaric. Why was the enclosure there so much less secure and easy to break through? Communities in south Israel fell victim to thugs who breached insufficient and poorly monitored fencing.

It might come as a surprise to most Americans, but gun laws in Israel are quite restrictive. Until just last week, the annual allotment for licensed gun owners was only fifty rounds of ammunition! And that’s after a loosening of the gun laws around five years ago. This was raised to a hundred in the aftermath of the weekend carnage – still ridiculously low in a country perpetually under potential siege. And a valid reason for possessing a firearm (such as self-defense!) was required for a permit. You’d think the whole country would qualify. Applicants were also restricted to a single gun.

And despite the firearm capability of most Israelis, more than one in three permit applications were rejected. So, who are the ones most likely to have guns? Criminals and terrorists.

In the last couple of days, constraints were further loosened. However, the Israeli government must do more to ramp up the multiple layers of self-defense that the country needs.

RKBA proponents In the US are probably shocked by this information. At the least, every town in proximity to the Gaza border should have had the means to protect themselves. The difference could have been monumental. Families that were wiped out might have survived. Babies who were murdered – beheaded! If you can imagine that level of savagery – they might have lived out their lives. And an unknown number of terrorist monsters would not have lived to murder another day.

If never again is to be a truthful slogan, the Israeli government must trust its citizens, especially those who have been through military service. And until the day comes that the residents of that beleaguered country are safe in their beds – and cribs – citizen gun ownership should not just be allowed by the Israeli government but vigorously encouraged.

Update: During the initial minutes of the attack, a lone 25-year-old Israeli woman, Inbal Lieberman, retrieved the necessary weaponry and likely saved her entire southern Israel kibbutz from devastation. She distributed stored guns and, along with fellow residents, shot and killed at least 25 terrorists before they could penetrate the kibbutz’s perimeter fencing.


TOPICS: Editorial; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: banglist; defense; israel
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1 posted on 10/25/2023 7:48:06 AM PDT by SJackson
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

Related threads

All-female Israeli 'lionesses' combat unit of just 13 soldiers 'killed nearly 100 Hamas gunmen as they helped liberate kibbutz'

2 posted on 10/25/2023 7:50:42 AM PDT by SJackson (In a war of ideas it is people who get killed.)
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To: SJackson

Israel and Nazi Germany both distrust(ed) Jews and prefer their slaughter to self defense. Israel has a death wish and will not learn.


3 posted on 10/25/2023 7:53:31 AM PDT by Badboo (A fascist is the one who wants to take your guns. That's how it always starts.)
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To: SJackson

The Islamic monsters knew the Kibbutz people were generally unarmed. That is why they attacked. We might be on the door steps of World War 3 because the Israeli government supporetd gun control against their own people. How did that work out for them,..and the rest of us?


4 posted on 10/25/2023 7:59:05 AM PDT by Lockbar (Even when you think you finally have enough ammo, you still really don't have enough. )
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To: SJackson

The author is certainly correct in that Israeli citizens need to be armed. But there is a big problem. Roughly 18% of Israelis are Muslim. Is their first loyalty to Israel, or to their Jew-hating religion? I think we all know the answer to that.

So do you only arm Jewish Israelis? Would such a law pass the Knesset?


5 posted on 10/25/2023 8:00:08 AM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: SJackson
The problem is that Israel is 18% muslim. I would not want to arm potential jihadis.

I would tie gun rights to military service in the IDF, which would eliminate most muslims. Veterans should have rights to own/carry any weapon they wish. This includes muslims who served in the IDF.

6 posted on 10/25/2023 8:01:48 AM PDT by 10mm
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To: Badboo

Self loathing progressive Jews should bear some responsibility. But, they’ll keep voting the democommies in.


7 posted on 10/25/2023 8:04:56 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
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To: 10mm

Agree
BUT didn’t I read that people who served in IDF got to keep a weapon when they left service?
Where were those weapons?


8 posted on 10/25/2023 8:05:23 AM PDT by RWGinger (FJB)
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To: Badboo

‘Never Again’—— Again!
.
Think about That for a moment.
6 million.


9 posted on 10/25/2023 8:05:24 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (The Truman Show)
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To: RWGinger

They still require a permit which is an arduous process. Even then, they may only own one handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition.


10 posted on 10/25/2023 8:11:12 AM PDT by 10mm
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To: SJackson

Is it possible that it isn’t typical lib crappola about guns but that they simply can’t trust certain segments of their citizenry to fight on the right side in an invasion type scenario? I have never seen anyone official argue there is a tactical demographic reason, although maybe it’s something they wouldn’t like to admit publicly. Is it something that just isn’t talked about or what?

They accept foreign military aid for their high-tech weapon systems, but it seems like allowing their populace to effectively arm themselves would be a pretty cheap way to at least have a fighting chance when people with rifles are at the door.

Freegards


11 posted on 10/25/2023 8:11:40 AM PDT by Ransomed
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To: Badboo
Israel has a death wish and will not learn.

I read where many Israelis are flocking to gun stores, to buy weapons, so, maybe some of them get it.

12 posted on 10/25/2023 8:14:29 AM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF Captain & pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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To: Ransomed
Is it something that just isn’t talked about or what?Yes. Generally those allowed to own arms are former military and police, security guards and citizen residents of the West Bank or those with a need. Eliminating those restrictions for all Israeli citizens would include the 20% or so Muslim population.

As to lib crappola about guns that's probably a factor, but it's my understanding Israel largely maintained the British laws regarding firearms, virtually no ownership, and loosened them over the years.

13 posted on 10/25/2023 8:17:33 AM PDT by SJackson (In a war of ideas it is people who get killed.)
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To: Lockbar

Not to besmirch the people of Israel, but videos of the young people dancing could have been a burning man event.


14 posted on 10/25/2023 9:10:20 AM PDT by DownInFlames (P)
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To: RWGinger
You may be thinking of Switzerland.


15 posted on 10/25/2023 9:29:50 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Big Red Badger

Didn’t learn a damn thing.


16 posted on 10/25/2023 9:30:48 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: PROCON

Ping.


17 posted on 10/25/2023 9:33:20 AM PDT by Joe Brower ("Might we not live in a nobler dream than this?" -- John Ruskin)
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To: DownInFlames

“Not to besmirch the people of Israel, but videos of the young people dancing could have been a burning man event.”

Not a care in the world...for another 10 minutes.


18 posted on 10/25/2023 9:33:59 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Bonemaker

Normalcy Bias
Abused Wife Syndrome
Turn the other cheek
Not my backyard
.
Schindlers List had that Accountant
Fellow with a weird personality——
.
I don’t know FRiend...
Seems one could stack the cattle cars
Up and have a waiting line to board.


19 posted on 10/25/2023 10:25:29 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (The Truman Show)
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To: SJackson
In the last couple of days, constraints were further loosened

Yeah, what's that old saying about closing the barn door.

20 posted on 10/25/2023 10:31:41 AM PDT by bgill
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