Israel’s public security minister vowed Tuesday to ease restrictions on carrying firearms for self-defense after a terrorist attack on a Jerusalem synagogue left four dead, including three Americans.
It was not exactly clear what new measures would be put in place, but Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said the move would apply to anyone licensed to carry a gun in Jerusalem, The Times of Israel reported.
The announcement comes after two armed Palestinians stormed into a Jerusalem synagogue during morning prayers, killing four people and injuring eight others. The two assailants were later killed by police, The Times reported.
A spokesperson for Mr. Aharonovitch told The Jerusalem Post that the minister meant he would examine easing restrictions on firearms, with an emphasis on security personnel and former-IDF officers, but did not say it could not potentially apply to the wider public.
At the scene of the attack on Tuesday, Mr. Aharonovitch called on Jewish residents of the city not to seek revenge on Palestinians.
“We are not in an easy period, [we are in] a period of terror attacks. I cannot promise that there won’t be another terror attack, but I can I promise we are doing everything we can to prevent it,” he said.
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• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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