Adv. Rotem Bavli Dvir, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel: “We expect to receive clear answers regarding the apparent contradictions between the police statement and the information provided to the Supreme Court at the hearing”
Tomorrow, Thursday August 8, 2024, the state is expected to present an updated submission to the Supreme Court on the petition of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel regarding the granting of firearms licenses. The petition, which was submitted following the granting of firearms licenses by parties other than qualified licensing officials, has taken a dramatic turn in recent weeks.
At the hearing that took place on 25 July 2024, the state submitted to the Supreme Court a summary according to which “from the findings of the investigation so far, it appears that thousands of licenses were issued for weapons during the relevant period. With the necessary caution, we note that upon initial inspection it becomes clear that most of them were distributed to people who pass the tests set forth in the regulations.”
However, a few days later, on 30 July 2024, the police announced the arrest of four suspects and the detention of ten more, including a senior employee of the Ministry of National Security, on suspicion of running a criminal network that dealt in issuing firearms licenses in return for bribes. According to the announcement, the suspects “engaged in the granting of licenses to hundreds of applicants, who paid bribes, including those who were not entitled to a license at all, because they did not meet the eligibility criteria”.
Following this, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel submitted a request to the Supreme Court to order the state to address the apparent contradiction between the police statement and the information provided to the court. The Movement also requested that the state detail how it intends to act regarding the hundreds of weapons that were apparently distributed to citizens who are not entitled to a license .
Adv. Rotem Bavli Dvir, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel: “We are facing a critical moment in this petition. The apparent contradictions between the information provided to the Supreme Court and the findings of the police investigation raise serious concerns that there are hundreds of firearms in the hands of those who are not entitled to them. This is an issue that directly affects public safety. We expect the state to provide clear and comprehensive answers tomorrow, and present an immediate plan of action to deal with the weapons that were distributed illegally. Every day that passes puts human life at risk, and the state has the responsibility to act quickly and with full transparency.”
