National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announces his ministry is purchasing 10,000 rifles in order to arm civilian security teams, specifically those in towns close to borders, as well as mixed Jewish-Arab cities and West Bank settlements.
The minister, who heads the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, says 4,000 assault rifles have already been bought from an Israeli manufacturer and will be distributed immediately.
Helmets and bulletproof vests have also been acquired and will be distributed along with the assault rifles.
Ben Gvir said the weapons and equipment will be distributed to “hundreds of towns that have civilian security teams linked to the Israel Police’s Border Police force.”
Civilian security teams provide security to small towns and communities in Israel’s periphery and the West Bank settlements, some of which helped defend residents from the Hamas invasion on Saturday.
“We will turn the world upside down so that towns are protected. I have given instructions for massively arming the civilian security teams,” says Ben Gvir.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
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