Surge in Israelis Seeking Weapons Permits

As the wave of violence directed against Jewish Israelis by Palestinians and Arab Israelis continued over the weekend, the Public Security Ministry noted a large increase in the number of Israeli citizens seeking to acquire of renew permits to purchase and carry firearms. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan welcomed the news, saying trained and armed citizens could help the police in the current crisis, and ordered his staff to extend office hours to deal with the increased demand. Shooting ranges and stores have also extended their working hours to accommodate permit holders who want to brush up on their skills. In related news, six M16 rifles belonging to the security team at a northern Israeli kibbutz were stolen Saturday, part of what police have warned is a surge in black market activity amidst rising levels of demand and fairly stringent regulations governing legal weapons ownership and use in Israel.