January 9, 1998
The following is excerpted from the latest newsletter of good friends who live in Israel:
MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE UPDATE (excerpts from recent bulletins received from Israel)
The campaign against the "Bill for Religious Censorship in Israel" is
working, thanks to the support of you and others like you who love Israel
and who have written or expressed your opposition to this bill. The volume
of protests has been so strong that the sponsors of the bill have proposed
a revision. Instead of prohibiting the import, printing, distribution
and/or possession of any material which can induce someone to change their
religion, punishable by one year in prison, the revised bill prohibits only
the unsolicited mailing of such material, punishable by three months in
prison. This is still totally unacceptable, but is a great improvement,
and a very significant retreat by the sponsors of the bill.
Knesset Member Zvili (one of the sponsors) has significantly modified his
bill so as to limit its proscription to the use of the postal services.
But he has repeatedly indicated his ultimate intention "to outlaw any form
of proselytizing in Israel," explaining that he could "not accept the
thought that anyone would have the right to persuade someone else to change
his religion."
Mr. Zvili has said that he would be willing to withdraw his support for the
bill, provided the Evangelical and Messianic communities are willing to
refrain from speaking for their faith. That is a demand we can never meet,
nor will any law ever succeed in achieving.
Our call to our people to consider the claims of Jesus upon their loyalty
is construed by most Israelis as a call to change one's religion,
regardless of anything we might say -- and the courts here have so far
upheld this view. As if the courtroom and the house of legislature are
appropriate places to decide issues of faith, personal conviction, theology
and religion.
The fact remains that the free exchange of ideas, including the right to
change one's religion, is an essential ingredient of any democratic
society. The passing of law restricting that free exchange is as
undemocratic as the establishment of a Thought Police. Why should Israeli
citizens not be free to hear, evaluate and decide upon such matters of
ultimate import? Why should we Messianic Jews not be free to make our own
contribution to the national process of redefining who we as a nation are?
Messianic Jews and Evangelicals are Israel's best friends. They and lovers
of democracy the world over, who are also friends of Israel, will not
accept such a situation. Israel must not become a totalitarian state such
as was the USSR, where religious faith was tolerated, but no public
declaration of it was allowed. The fight needs to go on until the bill is
totally defeated.
Here are the addresses to which letters of renewed protest should be sent:
The Honorable Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. Fax
972-2-623-3388
The Honorable Mr. Dan Tichon MK, Chairman of the Knesset. Fax 972-2-675-3111
The Honorable Mr. Ehud Barak MK, Chairman of the Labour Party. Fax
972-3-520-9344
The Honorable Mr. Tsachi HaNegbi, Minister of Judicial Affairs. Fax
972-2-628-5438
The Honorable Mr. Nissim Zvili MK (one of the two sponsors of the bill). Fax
972-2-675-3896
Further updates from the Messianic Action Committee in Israel may be found
on the "web" at:
The MAC Gallop Poll: http://www.d10r10.com/Jerusalem_gate/gate.htm
News headlines: http://www.d10r10.com/Jerusalem_gate/news.htm
News details: http://www.d10r10.com/Jerusalem_gate/features.htm
See also:
AMF's original posting on this subject
Update fromWorld Evangelical Fellowship's Religious Liberty e-mail Conference
July 1997 ISRAEL HEARTBEAT: Religious Freedom at Stake in Israel
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