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Controversial Israeli official says his country can learn from America’s gun laws
Israel’s controversial National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently visited the U.S., where he met with Jewish groups, law enforcement officials and politicians, as well as facing several clashes with protesters.
The shouting critics, however, did not appear to bother Ben-Gvir, who was a right-wing activist in his youth.
Ben-Gvir spoke with Fox News Digital about his U.S. visit, highlighting his trips to Mar-a-Lago, Yale and New York. He noted that he felt a shift in Israel-U.S. relations since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
«Under Biden’s administration, I was considered persona non grata. Under Trump, I was welcomed at Mar-a-Lago and was able to speak,» Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital. He added that having «an American president who supports us and stands behind us makes a difference» in wartime.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives for a cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on Aug. 27, 2023. (MENAHEM KAHANA/Pool via REUTERS)
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Trump was not the only politician who met with the Israeli firebrand. Several high-profile Republicans, including Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., and Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., met with Ben-Gvir on Capitol Hill.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee, which Mast chairs, posted a photo of the chairman with Ben-Gvir and wrote that the two discussed America and Israel’s shared security interests. Mast is well versed in both American and Israeli security needs as a U.S. Army veteran and former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) volunteer.
Prior to his meeting with Mast, Ben-Gvir had the chance to visit his home state where he saw something that he wanted to take back with him to Israel: gun culture.
Ben-Gvir has long been an advocate for wider distribution of firearms in Israel, and while he was visiting the U.S., he took time to see how America handles guns. He had the opportunity to visit both a shooting range and a gun store, which he said was «fascinating.»
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, left, visits the Al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Old City on May 21, 2023. (Minhelet Har-Habait, Temple Mount Administration/Handout via REUTERS. )
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«I was surprised by the quantity and types of weapons available. Even I haven’t reached that level,» Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital.
He spoke about how critics have accused him of arming militias, which he denies. When speaking with Fox News Digital, Ben-Gvir said that the weapons he distributed in Israel «saved many lives.»
«I believe we need to learn a from the Americans. One of the important lessons is their policy on weapons,» Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital. «I’m not sure I would distribute arms to the same extent, but I definitely believe in expanding access because citizens have the right to defend themselves.»
Gun culture in Israel has changed since the Oct. 7 massacre. Before the attacks, Israel was strict about who was eligible to obtain a firearm. Pre-Oct. 7, firearm licenses were restricted to those who live and work in high-risk areas, licensed tour guides and those who served with Israeli police or IDF security forces, among a few other specified categories, according to an Israeli government website from 2019.
Israeli forces are seen among the rubble of buildings destroyed after the clashes between Israeli and Palestinian forces in Be’eri, Israel, on Oct. 13, 2023. (Nir Keidar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Since Oct. 7, Israel has seen a rise in applications for firearm permits. While Ben-Gvir worked to streamline the handgun application process prior to the attacks, he instituted additional reforms after the massacre. According to the Times of Israel, these reforms included changes to military service requirements for those seeking a license. Additionally, he expanded eligibility requirements to include national service members who have no criminal record, history of violence or mental health issues.
«We need to allow as many citizens as possible to be armed. It gives people a sense of security—when someone has a weapon in their pocket, they feel safer,» Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital.
He added that he had been fighting to arm communities near Gaza but said people «didn’t listen to me. After Oct. 7, I was proven right. It became clear how necessary it was to provide more weapons to civil defense squads.»
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However, he is proud of his work distributing weapons in the area near Gaza and establishing civil defense squads there. «Thank God, it’s working,» he said.
Amelie Botbol contributed to this report.
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Varias variedades de camarones crudos provenientes de países como Argentina, India e Indonesia se exhiben en la sección de mariscos de un Walmart Supercenter en Grapevine, Texas. Foto ReutersCasos y ejemplos
Estados Unidos,Donald Trump,Aranceles
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Dem challenger calls GOP congresswoman ‘ESL puppet’ in heated immigration post: ‘Vile extremist’
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EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., responded to comments from a Democratic challenger referring to her as an «ESL puppet» in a post criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
«My story is not unique. It’s the story of so many Korean Americans and immigrants across the country who are proud Americans and are making our communities better every day. I’m proud of my accent and will keep using my voice to protect the American dream for future generations,» Kim told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
«It’s a new low for a child of Korean immigrants to move to a district two hours away to parrot race-baiting, anti-immigrant slurs targeting a fellow Korean American. Young is the most effective federal lawmaker from California and continues to prove she’s an independent fighter for her community,» Callie Strock, campaign spokesperson for Kim added.
Democrat Esther Kim Varet’s post Wednesday night included screenshots from a National Republican Campaign Committee X post that says Kim Varet is «radical,» «anti-ICE,» and «pushing fringe conspiracy theories.»
It also included screenshots of various news articles about Asian immigrants facing deportation and other woes as ICE doubles down on deportation efforts.
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Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., speaks during a hearing March 10, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Ting Shen-Pool/Getty Images)
«Remember when your own racist MAGA party couldn’t tell your much older a– apart from me [Rep. Kim]?» Kim Varet wrote. «You’re a power-hungry Korean-born immigrant that has sold your conscience to the devil – at the price of all hard-working immigrants. You don’t work hard, you and your husband are the biggest GRIFTERS representing the swamp – putrid and pussing from the rot that is your soul.
«Don’t you even realize that OUR shared Korean-American community has the highest number of undocumented immigrants amongst Asians?» she added. «You don’t even speak English well enough to hold a single cohesive argument. You ESL puppet. So embarrassing. A real life Judas to our community. You sicken me [Rep. Kim].»
The posts quickly caught the attention of the NRCC as it focuses on competitive House races.
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National Guard soldiers block protesters during an ICE immigration raid at a nearby cannabis farm July 10, 2025, near Camarillo, Calif. (Getty Images/Mario Tama)
The comments come as ICE operations continue to be a major topic of debate in the Golden State. Most Republicans argue the efforts are necessary for public safety, while others worry it’s harming immigrant communities.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE
«Unhinged Democrat Esther Kim Varet is a hate-filled bigot who embodies the worst of today’s political discourse. Californians will reject this vile extremist who has no business representing them in Congress,» NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez said in a statement Thursday.
In response to the NRCC’s comments, Varet told Fox News Digital it «seems like par for the course that national Republicans can’t tell Asians apart.»
IMMIGRANTS NEEDED FOR ‘REDISTRICTING PURPOSES,’ HOUSE DEM ADMITS IN VIRAL CLIP: ‘QUIET PART OUT LOUD’
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, and current Gov. Gavin Newsom are on opposite sides in the push for mid-decade congressional redistricting. (Getty;AP)
California congressional seats could face redrawing for the 2026 cycle, but the fate of redistricting is still to be battled out nationwide. Still, Kim could be in yet another closely watched race after President Donald Trump won the district narrowly in 2024. Kim defeated Democrat Joe Kerr by over 40,000 votes in November.
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Kim Varet is one of several candidates in a wide Democratic field seeking to challenge the incumbent Republican in the general election, according to Politico. Cook Political Report ranks the race as «Lean Republican.»
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INTERNACIONAL
Al menos cinco muertos y diez heridos en un ataque israelí en la frontera entre Líbano y Siria
Al menos cinco personas murieron y otras diez resultaron heridas en un ataque perpetrado este jueves por el Ejército de Israel en el paso fronterizo de Masnaa, que se encuentra en la gobernación libanesa de Becá (este), a pesar del alto el fuego alcanzado en noviembre de 2024.
El Ministerio de Sanidad de Líbano informó a través de un breve comunicado recogido por la agencia de noticias NNA de que se trata de un balance preliminar y sostiene que “el ataque del enemigo israelí” tuvo como objetivo un vehículo ubicado en la carretera de Masnaa. Por el momento, el Ejército de Israel no se ha pronunciado al respecto.
Por otro lado, la cartera ministerial confirmó también la muerte de una persona en un ataque aéreo en la localidad de Kfardan, en la gobernación de Baalbek, que se encuentra en el extremo nororiental del país.
Israel justifica este tipo de ataques contra Líbano argumentando que actúa contra actividades del grupo terrorista Hezbollah y que, por ello, no viola el alto el fuego pactado en noviembre, si bien tanto Beirut como el grupo se han mostrado críticos con estas acciones, igualmente condenadas por Naciones Unidas.
El pacto, alcanzado tras meses de combates al hilo de los ataques del 7 de octubre de 2023, contemplaba que tanto Israel como Hezbollah debían retirar sus efectivos del sur de Líbano. Sin embargo, el Ejército israelí ha mantenido cinco puestos en el territorio de su país vecino, algo también criticado por las autoridades libanesas, que exige el fin de este despliegue.
Por otra parte, el Consejo de Ministros de Líbano aprobó este jueves la propuesta de Estados Unidos sobre el desarme de Hezbollah. El anuncio se produjo tras una sesión celebrada en el Palacio de Baabda, en la que el gabinete libanés avaló los objetivos presentes en el documento presentado por el enviado estadounidense Tom Barrack.
El ministro de Información, Paul Morcos, declaró que “el gabinete ha concluido el debate del primer punto de su sesión y ha aprobado los objetivos establecidos en la introducción del documento estadounidense para consolidar el acuerdo de cese de hostilidades”.
Morcos señaló que el gobierno sigue “a la espera de un plan de implementación del Ejército” y afirmó: “Hemos acordado poner fin a la presencia armada en todo el país, incluido Hezbollah, y desplegar el Ejército libanés en las zonas fronterizas”, según declaraciones recogidas por NNA.
El documento estadounidense propone que Líbano adopte medidas que extiendan su soberanía sobre todo su territorio, incluyendo el monopolio estatal sobre la decisión de guerra y paz, así como sobre el uso de las armas. Plantea la progresiva eliminación de la presencia armada de todas las facciones no estatales, incluido Hezbollah, la movilización del ejército en puntos clave de la frontera y la retirada de Israel de las zonas libanesas que ocupa actualmente.
El plan insta a resolver los puntos pendientes con Israel mediante “negociaciones indirectas y medios diplomáticos”, y contempla el retorno de los residentes desplazados a sus localidades afectadas por el conflicto. También reclama una delimitación “permanente y visible” de las fronteras de Líbano con Israel y Siria. Washington ha propuesto una conferencia económica internacional para reconstruir la economía libanesa y canalizar más apoyo a las fuerzas de seguridad del país, vinculando estos pasos a la visión del expresidente Donald Trump para el desarrollo económico nacional.
El enviado estadounidense, Tom Barrack, afirmó este jueves que el gobierno libanés tomó una decisión “histórica” esta semana al avanzar hacia el desarme de Hezbollah, respaldado por Irán, tal como ha solicitado Washington.
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