December, 1998
MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE UPDATE (excerpts from recent bulletins received from Israel)
FREEDOM REPORT NO. 56 =====================
* Messianic Congregation Targeted on Sabbath By
Ultra-Orthodox
* Press Release: New Gallup Poll Reflects Will of the
People
* Comparative Results With Previous Poll
* Legislative Procedures
MESSIANIC CONGREGATION TARGETED ON SABBATH BY
ULTRA-ORTHODOX
On Saturday morning, November 28, 1998, the Messianic congregation in Beer Sheva was
surrounded and entered by Ultra-Orthodox Jews with the purpose of disrupting Sabbath
services. The expected large meeting was rescheduled for a different time, and the crowd
was diffused by three Police wagons. Police estimates of the number of religious
protestors was 1,000 people over a period of three hours. The newspaper "Yediot
Aharonot" and Kol Yisrael Radio were on the scene to report. None were hurt as
approximately 30 women and children of congregational members in the building were
escorted to safety. The Ultra-Orthodox protestors had erroneously heard that 150 children
had been kidnaped in order to perform baptisms. Death threats were made in order to
prevent expected imposed baptisms. Some in the crowd were reported as saying they would
take the children by force if necessary. There has never been a single case of kidnaping
by Messianic Jews, yet this lie persists.
Also, "HaAretz" Newspaper in an article today reported a recent demonstration outside the home of a Messianic Jewish couple in Kiryat Malachi. Several dozen Chabad high school students attacked these American immigrants as they were suspected of missionary activity. The boys threw stones at the house. The above incidents, together with the recent torching of the apartment of Swiss Christians in the Ultra Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, reflects a new reality. We are now a focused target for violence as an expression of religious zeal.
Sometimes the persecution is less dramatic. Take, for example, the story of another
event of recent days in Nazareth. One regular congregant uses his automobile to help
provide transportation to others in the congregation. For this effort he was threatened by
Ultra Orthodox Jews with punishment if he continued to provide this service. When he
ignored this intimidation, a stone smashed his front window and the air was let out of two
of his tires. This same congregation had silicone put into the door locks of the
congregational facility. These are part of a pattern of growing regularity.
PRESS RELEASE
Simultaneous with this report we are issuing a press release, which reports the results of
a poll taken regarding Israeli public opinion. It shows that, in a comprehensive survey
which tested the positions of the public with regard to the rights of minorities in a
democratic society, 74% of Haredim Ultra-Orthodox and 87% of Religious people polled agree
that it is the role of a democratic society to protect such rights.
The poll was taken at the beginning of the month of November, 1998, from a public sampling of 504 people ranging in age from 18 and up from all areas of Israel. Approximately 70% of those polled expressed agreement that Messianic Jews, being loyal to the State of Israel, are deserving to be citizens with equal rights.
From the findings of the poll, it is determined that a majority of the Israeli public opposes the proposed law which seeks to abolish the right of Messianic Jews to disseminate their faith (54%). About 62% even declared that they would support the right to free expression and dissemination of ideas by Israeli minorities if a national referendum were taken on the issue.
The findings of the survey show clearly that Israeli society is an open society which allows all of its members to live according to their faith and conscience. About 84% of those polled agreed that, in a democracy, the individual has the right to live according to his own faith and conscience, even if his beliefs are in opposition to the opinion of another
83% of those polled agree that every faith should be allowed to explain and disseminate its own principles, even if these opinions are opposed to the views of those surveyed. 89.3% of those polled in the survey agree to the assumption that in a democracy it is the duty of the public and of the government to protect the rights of minorities, even if their ideas are different from those of the majority of society.
SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
The above-mentioned poll asked identical questions as a survey taken in June, 1997. Below are the dated results showing some progress and confirming the earlier data.
___________________________
1. Do you agree or disagree that, in a democracy, it is the duty of the public and of
the government to protect the rights of the minority, even if its opinions differ from
those of the majority?
June 1997:
Agree: 87.5%
Disagree: 8.9%
Don't know: 3.6%
2. Do you agree or disagree that, in a democracy, every faith must have the possibility
to explain or spread its principles, even if its principles differ from those of the
majority?
June 1997: Agree: 81.5% Disagree: 13.8% Don't know: 1.3%
3. Do you agree or disagree that, in a democracy, there should be equal opportunity for
all human groups in society to live in accordance with their conscience, even if it
differs from those of the majority?
June 1997: Agree: 87.5% Disagree: 9.3% Don't know: 2.7%
June 1997:
Agree: 87.5%
Disagree: 9.3%
Don't know: 7.2%
4. If a law would be passed to restrict the right of any
religious movement to
promote its faith, would you support or oppose such a law?
NOV. 1998:
SUPPORT: 34.6%
OPPOSE: 59.1%
DON'T KNOW: 3.7%
June 1997:
Support: 30.1%
Oppose: 58.2%
Don't know: 11.2%
5. In the Knesset there is a proposed law which has as its purpose to forbid the promotion of the faith of certain believers. Do you consider such a proposal to be democratic or undemocratic?
NOV. 1998:
DEMOCRATIC: 26.8%
UNDEMOCRATIC: 61.1%
DON'T KNOW: 8.5%
June 1997:
Democratic: 28.7%
Undemocratic: 59.3%
Don't know:10.5%
6. Messianic Jews are citizens of Israel. They pay their taxes, serve in the army and are faithful to the State. Messianic Jews believe in the New Testament. Do you think they have or do not have the right to be citizens with equal rights?
NOV. 1998:
THEY HAVE: 70.2%
THEY DO NOT HAVE: 24.8%
DON'T KNOW: 2.6%
June 1997:
They have: 68%
They do not have: 27.8%
Don't know:3.4%
7. In The Knesset there is a proposed law to proscribe the rights of Messianic Jews who
are citizens of Israel to promote their faith. Do you support or oppose such a law?
June 1997:
Support: 39.6%
Oppose: 52.3%
Don't know: 7.4%
8. Should a referendum be held concerning the rights of minorities in Israel to express and promote their faith, would you support or oppose that right?
NOV. 1998:
SUPPORT: 62.4%
OPPOSE: 24.9%
DON'T KNOW: 7.9%
June 1997:
Support: 62.3%
Oppose: 26.0%
Don't know: 11.8%
During the month of December the MAC will make extensive efforts to apprise Knesset members of the results of the public opinion poll. One particularly interesting piece of information appears in Question 7 whereby 54.3% of the public oppose the pending legislation proscribing discussion of the New Testament. We, therefore, can urge that members of the Knesset vote according to the majority of the will of the people.
CONSTITUTION, LAW AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
In our last report we repeated what was told to our lobbyist by Committee Chairman Porat's assistant, that the Pinchasi legislation would be reported out of committee in the weeks ahead. On November 20 the bill reached the six-month anniversary of its preliminary reading wherein it was introduced. That date was on a Friday. The Committee meets on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Monday, November 22,the Pinchasi Bill appeared on the Committee's list of prospective bills to be reported out. Each week about five bills are placed on the agenda for the Committee to consider, possibly for the full Knesset to vote upon. We will continue to monitor for any legislative movement in this regard and report to you accordingly.
DIPLOMATIC VIGILANCE
The Prime Minister of Norway has corresponded several times with Israel's government in
opposition to anti-religious freedom legislation. Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised to
oppose all such efforts, and this has been reported in the press and on television. When
learning of the committee ripening of the bill and reported likelihood of overt action,
the Norwegian Prime Minister wrote another letter. Moreover, he stimulated his Parliament
to write a separate letter, again attempting to persuade against the bill's passage. In
addition, a special caucus of concerned Norwegian Parliamentary members wrote a third
letter to express their individual strong objections.
In light of the previous publicity of double-speak by Mr. Netanyahu on this subject with the Government of Norway, a governmental vote favoring passage of the bill at First Reading could be an embarrassment to the Netanyahu government. Conversely, a vote in opposition would be a disappointment to the religious parties at a time of particularly fragile coalition politics.
Could it be that the Norwegians have bought us time? It will be interesting to see how Prime Minister Netanyahu will respond to the Norwegian Government and, through them, to the rest of the democratic countries throughout the world.
The Pinchasi Bill (passed preliminary reading on May 20, 1998): "Prohibition on calling for a change of religion" -- 174c: " Anyone who preaches with the goal of causing any other person to change his religion is liable to three years' imprisonment or a 50,000 Shekel* fine."
*approximate value of US $12,000
____________________________________________
MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE
Paul Liberman, Chairman
Noam Hendren
Charles Kopp
Marvin Kramer, Esq.
Nizar Touma
Daniel Yahav
P.O. Box 5462, Herzliya 46100 Israel Telephone/Fax:
972-9-951-6118
E-mail: themac@netvision.net.il
Wires: Account No. 500046, First International Bank of Israel,
Rishon LeZion
Branch (No.32). NOTE: Please make wires and checks payable to
"HaGefen
Publishing--Freedom".
See also:
AMFI's Religious Liberty in Israel Update Page
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