April 23, 2000


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

FREEDOM REPORT NO. 73 ======================

*  Ethiopian Messianic Jews - Deportation?
*  Title Deed to the Land
*  Israel's Ethiopian Bind
*  Evangelical Christians in the PA Persecuted

DEPORTATIONS

In Reports 71 and 72, we attempted to provide a complete summary of events
leading to an adverse High Court decision regarding three sisters of
Ethiopian descent and New Testament belief.  They were singled out on a
legal technicality.  An article in the HaAretz Newspaper informed a
deportation was expected by the end of May.  (Our Committee learned of this
from the newspaper article and after a year's court struggle had already
taken place).

The attorney who represented the three sisters in their Petition before the
Supreme Court supplied the MAC, at its request, a copy of the legal
argument submitted in opposition to the above Petition, by the Government
legal counsel on behalf of the Minister of the Interior.

As part of its argument, the Government's legal counsel asserted, as
follows:
"11.  To complete the picture, it is to be noted that as stated in the
Petition, the Petitioners did indeed study for a certain period in Haifa
University and that, as far as it is known to the Ministry of the Interior,
the Petitioners, during the course of their studies as well as thereafter,
they were also involved with missionary activity."

It needs to be repeated that this latter argument, dealing with "missionary
activity," is not a legal argument, as such, inasmuch as there is no
definition of such activity and, in any event, whatever such activity may
be, it is not presently illegal, except, of course, of the existing
provisions of the Penal Law prohibiting the offering of money or material
inducement to convert.  Thus, it can reasonably be inferred that the sole
purpose of experienced Government legal counsel for including the argument
about "missionary activity" was to incite the emotions of the Justices
against the three girls.  The Supreme Court, in its decision, concluded
that those within the Ministry of the Interior "acted within the framework
of their authority and with appropriate discretion".  The decision made no
reference to "missionary activity," nor did it indicate that such argument
was without foundation.

In dismissing the Petition, the Supreme Court added:
"The Petitioners are entitled, of course, to request from the authorities
that they be allowed to continue to reside in Israel with a different
status that is not citizenship status, and the presumption in their favor
is that the authorities will consider that request in an appropriate
manner."

The MAC has attempted to meet with the Minister of the Interior Natan
(formerly Anatoly) Sharansky on behalf of these women at the urging of the
heads of the Ethiopian Evangelical community.  The Minister indicated he
would meet with us only after obtaining a legal opinion from Attorney
General Elyakim Rubinstein as to whether "missionaries" (undefined) as
noted above are "enemies of the Jewish People" and constitute a danger to
the nation of Israel.

In addition to requesting a worldwide letter writing campaign, we are
contacting Foreign Ministries of governments around the world to inquire of
Israel about this matter on a human rights basis.  We have written to
newspaper editors and government officials at the highest levels.  To this
point, everything is pending and in suspense.  We will notify you as soon
as we learn of any movement in either direction.

Just prior to sending out this Report, it was learned that the Ministry of
the Interior obtained possession of 17 videotapes produced by the Ethiopian
Messianic community.  The Ministry is scrutinizing the tapes, identifying
each person appearing therein, knocking on their doors and informing the
congregants that they are known to be "missionaries".  Threats have been
made against the members of such community, including speedy deportation.

LAND TITLE DEED

Throughout the 20th Century and for millennium past, Jews have maintained
that the Bible is their ultimate authority for regathering and repossessing
the tiny sliver of land on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.  Our
Committee wholeheartedly agrees with this premise.  It is upon this
assertion that we stand.  Through the court (and previously the Knesset
legislative efforts) the ultra-religious sects have sought to
disenfranchise the Messianic believers; we are heartened by statements
under-girding our position within the ancient Scriptures.  Among these is
Isaiah 51:11, which says "Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return
and come, and come with singing unto Zion."  In order to return, people -
Jews - had to have lived in this Land previously.  Who but believers in
Jesus (Yeshua) assert that we have been redeemed (brought with a price and
owned by the One paying)?

Even those not agreeing with our perspective, would agree that the manner
of interpreting the Scriptures should not be considered illegal and our
presence in Israel should not constitute a crime.  In our view, the
situation is becoming more extreme, and, eventually, the brethren worldwide
will have to take a stand on this matter.  That is why we so much
appreciate your interest and your input.

ETHIOPIAN BIND

On April 7, the Jerusalem Post published an article describing some 26,000
Ethiopians claiming Jewish descent and awaiting transport to emigrate to
Israel.  This is an estimate of the North American Conference on Ethiopian
Jewry (NACOEJ).  They are gathered in compounds in the capital of Addis
Ababa and Gonder.  Once having abandoned this land to pursue emigration,
they have lost title to their property.

The Jewish Agency estimates that no more than 2,000 to 5,000 are really
eligible.  Of the 26,000 people, some 1,200 are Christians who claim to be
of Jewish descent.  Desperation to move to Israel is so pervasive that some
people are marrying Jews or giving their children up for Jewish adoption.
At present, there is only one person representing the Israeli Ministry of
the Interior to sort out this mess, which continues to grow larger with
each passing month.  As a result, Interior  Minister Natan Sharansky has
personally visited the area to investigate and make a determination.

World opinion and international pressure may cause Minister Sharansky to
allow thousands of Ethiopians to enter Israel, despite the lack of legal or
governmental documentation.  Should he choose to allow many unidentifiable
Jewish entrants, his position would be inconsistent with the deportation of
the three Ethiopian Messianic believers awaiting deportation notice.  He
must also keep in mind his leading campaign election promise of "Nosh
Control" (a kinder and gentler Ministry of the Interior), if he were
elected.

In Ethiopia, there does not exist registries of birth, marriage or
adoption. This may be the case in other countries.  Because of the lack of
available documentation, Ethiopian Jews are especially vulnerable to the
administrative discretion of the Ministry of the Interior.  Commonly, new
Ethiopian immigrants to Israel are required to undergo conversion to
Rabbinical Judaism in order to be classified as Jews.

Because Ethiopian Jews have been separated from their Jewish brethren for
thousands of years, they subscribe of the validity of the Old Testament,
but have no knowledge of the Talmud and other rabbinical writings.  The
conversion process calls for an adherence to Israeli rabbinical authority,
which considers the Talmud and ancient rabbinical opinion to be holy writ.

We are informed that the Ethiopian section of the Population Registry at
the Interior Ministry has personnel who have yielded to these rabbinical
dictates and are zealously opposed to Ethiopian Jews who accept Yeshua
(Jesus) as Messiah.

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS IN THE PA PERSECUTED

Christians in Palestinian Authority (PA)-administered territories and in
certain Arab communities in Israel have found themselves facing "KGB" style
tactics, including life threats.   Prayer meetings, worship services,
gatherings and conferences, etc. are under surveillance by observers
positioned by the Authority, following a PA law dictating that six people
cannot be in one place without notifying the government.  Christians known
to the PA have been accused of "acting against the Muslim faith", as the PA
witness these Christian congregational ministries growing among the Muslim
majority. There is constant concern about the future of such churches in
areas under the Palestinians' control.

The current PA policy in regards to the exercise of the individual's right
to religious freedom strains its democratic claim at this juncture of the
Final Status Talks.  The policy of the PA is so severe that it is in
conflict with the provisions of the Wolf/Spector legislation in the U.S.
Under the latter's provisions, abrogation of human rights, as the PA
threatens, could bring the PA under U.S. trade sanctions.  Real politic
could consider this danger only theoretical.  Israeli Arab New Testament
believers face injustice, lack of mercy and meanness of spirit.  In the PA,
they are confronted with betrayal and torture.  This is sometimes even
resulting in internal distrust among Arab Christians towards one another.

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

P. O. Box 5462, Herzliya  46153    Israel
Tel/Fax:  972-9-951-6118      
E-mail: themac@netvision.net.il
Wires:  Bank Leumi, 32 Maskit Street, Herzliya Pituach, Israel
Telephone:  972-9-970-6333, Fax No. 972-9-970-6355
Branch/Account No.: 864-12986      ABA Number = SWIST CODE =LEUMILIT864

See also:

AMFI's Religious Liberty in Israel Update Page

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