May 18, 1999

MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE UPDATE (excerpts from recent bulletins received from Israel)

FREEDOM REPORT NO. 64 May 18, 1999
======================
*  The 15th Knesset

*  New Coalition Agreement -- Possible Danger


THE 15TH KNESSET

(IsraelWire-May 18) The following results are representative of 97.9%
of the popular vote:

Prime Minister Elect Ehud Barak – 55.9%
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu – 43.9%
______________________________________

CNN 4:25 a.m.

Preliminary returns for the 120-member Knesset:

-    One Israel - 27 seats
-    Likud - 19 seats
-    Center - 6 seats
-    National Religious Party - 5 seats
-    Shas - 17 seats
-    Meretz - 9 seats
-    Yisrael B'Aliya - 7 seats
-    Hadash - 3 seats
-    United Torah Judaism - 5 seats
-    Arab Democratic Party - 5 seats
-    National Union - 3 seats
-    Shinui - 6 seats
-    Israel Beiteinu - 4 seats
-    National Democratic Alliance - 2 seats
-    One Nation - 2 seats

This breakdown, provided by the Israel Central Election Commission, is based on returns from 100 percent of the civilian vote. There were, however, 160,000 votes of soldiers, diplomats and prisoners yet to be counted. These returns are expected to change the Knesset election totals.

NEW COALITION AGREEMENT -- POSSIBLE DANGER

The new Left-leaning government to be formed is seen by many to have been, among other things, a rejection of religious coercion, increasingly prevalent in Israeli life. The three major religious parties, i.e., Shas, National Religious party and United Torah Judaism, will now have a total of 27 Knesset seats. This is a combined increase from their previous 23 seats.

We have been informed more than once that the religious parties will insist on legislation adverse to Messianic Jews and Evangelical Christians. The threat is that this will be set as a condition to entering into a coalition agreement. One or more religious party may not be asked to be included in the new coalition. However, the new Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, may resist such a demand.

Therefore, we are asking our readers who want to help and participate to please write or fax to the following address, expressing concern that this will not take place. Please specifically request Mr. Barak not to agree to inclusion of coalition legislation aimed against the religious freedom of Messianic Jews and Evangelical Christians. This would be consistent with Mr. Barak’s election campaign, which upheld democracy in Israeli society.

Prime Minister Elect Ehud Barak
One Israel Party
HaYarkon Street  110
Tel Aviv, Israel
Fax No.:972-3-520-9344

MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE

Paul Liberman, Chairman
Noam Hendren
Charles Kopp
Marvin Kramer, Esq.
Nizar Touma
Daniel Yahav

NOTE: Please make wires and checks payable to "HaGefen
Publishing--Freedom".

Checks:  direct to P.O. Box 5462, Herzliya 46100 Israel
Wires:  First International Bank of Israel, 20 Rothschild Street,
Rishon Le Zion, Israel, Telephone: 972-3-948-4200, Account No.
500046, Branch No. 32
ABA Number = SWIST CODE FIRBILITXXX
Please make notification to the MAC via the following fax number
e-mail or postal address:

P.O. Box 5462,  Herzliya   46100   Israel
Telephone/Fax:   972-9-951-6118
E-mail: themac@netvision.net.il

See also:

AMFI's Religious Liberty in Israel Update Page

==========================================

Return to AMFI HOME PAGE