The Sydney attack led to emergency discussions in the Australian government, and now there are calls for comprehensive changes to the law. Among other things: limiting the number of weapons per license holder, after it was found that the terrorist was in possession of six - and tightening the use of intelligence, as the terrorist's ties to ISIS have already been examined. The proposals - and the opposite trend from Israeli policy
AP|
A day later
The shocking anti-Semitic massacre at a Hanukkah party on Sydney's Bondi Beach
, where
15 people were murdered.
The Australian government began promoting a comprehensive change to gun control laws today (Monday) - and new restrictions are being added to the country's already strict laws.
The Sydney Terrorists - Father and Son. A 10-year-old girl and an 87-year-old man were murdered | Minute by minute of the Hanukkah massacre
3 Viewing the gallery
"We will take whatever action is necessary." Albanese (Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch/via REUTERS)
The move includes reopening the historic National Firearms Agreement, which effectively banned semi-automatic weapons after a lone gunman killed 35 people on the island of Tasmania in 1996. This was announced in a joint statement by nine leaders from the federal and state governments, after an emergency meeting.
Among the changes, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese proposed limiting the number of firearms a licensee can purchase - and reviewing existing licenses over time. This, despite the fact that one of the terrorists, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, had held a firearms license for a decade - and legally owned six weapons."The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Among other things, stricter gun laws are needed," Albanese said.
Government leaders have also proposed restricting gun ownership to Australian citizens, a move that would have prevented the father of the gunman from owning a gun, who arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa and became a permanent resident after marrying a local woman. Officials have declined to confirm which country he immigrated from. His son, Naveed, who does not have a gun license, is a natural-born Australian citizen.
It was also proposed to make"further use of criminal intelligence" in determining eligibility for a firearms licence. This could mean that the father would have been disqualified from possessing a firearm due to his son's"close links", which the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) investigated six years ago - to an ISIS terror cell in Sydney. Police also found a flag of the terrorist organisation in the terrorists' vehicle.
The Bondi Beach terrorists. The father possessed 6 licensed weapons (Photo: According to Section 27A of the Copyright Act)
New South Wales Premier Christopher Means said the state's gun laws would change, but noted that he could not at this stage detail how."That means bringing a bill to Parliament - and I say this in the most direct way - to make it harder to obtain these horrific weapons, which have no practical use in our community," he said, adding:"If you're not a farmer - why do you need such huge weapons, which endanger the public and make life dangerous and difficult for the New South Wales Police?"
The horror at Australia's most popular beach was the deadliest shooting in almost three decades, since the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania in 1996. The steps taken at the time have significantly reduced the number of deaths in such violent incidents.
And what did they do in Israel?
The Australian move to tighten gun control sounds almost the exact opposite of the policy being taken by Israel regarding firearms licensing. Since October 7, the government has eased the conditions for obtaining this license many times, with many in it, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, calling for as many citizens as possible to arm themselves.
Already in the first weeks of the war, new regulations were published.
, according to which every citizen with a combatant certificate will be entitled to a license to carry a weapon. In addition, the definitions were expanded according to place of residence or work, as well as for new immigrants and workers in rescue organizations.
The calls have especially intensified after terrorist attacks. After
The attack at Ramot Junction
In Jerusalem in September, Ben Gvir arrived at the scene and said:"There was an act of heroism here, two Haredim who received weapons as part of the weapons reform. Weapons save lives, we need to remember that. I call on the citizens of Israel - go arm yourself."
A surge in license holders. Ben Gvir (Photo: EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)
By May of this year, the number of eligible people had increased from 170,000 at the beginning of the war to 300,000. In the same month, it expanded by tens of thousands more, after
The National Security Committee approved new regulations
Significantly expanding the number of IDF professions that grant their graduates this right. Among other things, not only military graduates in combat roles were allowed to carry private weapons, but also graduates of a number of other roles defined as"having high proficiency in the operation and use of firearms."
In addition, the committee promoted a law led by MK Limor Son Har-Malech, which states that security guards will be able to carry weapons outside of working hours and will not be required to deposit them as is currently required.
In July, employees of the Firearms Licensing Division at the Ministry of National Security
It has been learned that Minister Ben Gvir is planning a further expansion of eligibility
, without their knowledge, among others, to reservists, wounded and combatants, and at the same time an addition of dozens of localities that would be considered eligible under the definition of"risk areas" or "national priority areas." They threatened to declare a labor dispute if the intention was not enforced, against the backdrop of the publication of the Ombudsman's report - which indicated a sharp jump of about 500% in citizen complaints against the Ministry of National Security, while the move is expected to lead to about 500,000 additional license applications.
The alarming numbers of female homicides with firearms: "At this rate, we will reach a 100% jump"
Femicide is breaking records, but Ben Gvir's office has no data:"It's impossible to manage it like this"
These relaxations come against the backdrop of a worrying spike in the murders of women. According to
