The applicant for a firearms license must be a citizen or permanent resident of Israel, who has lived in Israel for the past three years or had completed his national / military service. A person who has served in IDF can receive a firearms license in Israel as of the age of 18. Anyone who has served in the National Service may receive a license starting at the age of 21. Someone who has never served can only receive weapon license after reaching the age of 27. The applicant must be fluent enough in Hebrew to understand instructions and pass an interview.
Anyone requesting a permit to carry a weapon must attach a health declaration from a physician to the application. Finally, the applicant must undergo the required weapons training.
The desire to a obtain a weapon for self-defence is not considered sufficient reason for obtaining a private firearms permit. In order to obtain the license, one must meet one of several criteria specified in the procedures. The criteria include those who live or work beyond the Green Line (the West Bank area or one of the few “communities entitled to weapons” within the Green Line), serve in the security forces (or the police, the Shin Bet, airport security, etc.) or who needs to carry a weapon in their line of work (a security guard, a tour guide, a certified farmer, an explosives carrier, a shooting instructor).
Most private weapons holders are entitled to carry a pistol and 50 bullets. Hunters, rodent exterminators, athletes in the field of shooting and veterinarians working in the field are entitled to receive a type of rifle appropriate to their profession, subject to the recommendation of the relevant authority.
But even having passed the listed requirements and criteria, each applicant’s specific circumstances are examined, in order to ensure that they will not pose a danger to public safety if they receive a weapon permit. For example, any recorded history of criminal convictions, drug consumption, and violent incidents may result in rejection of the application. So can certain types of mental illness, especially involving hallucinations or suicidal tendencies.
The deciding clerk may take into account the circumstances of a past criminal case, even if the applicant was never convicted. References may be made to a case that was never brought to court or closed for lack of evidence
