>Anti-missionary Law In Israel (Modern Day Phariseeism Rearing its Ugly Serpentine Head)<
Doc Tavish
An International Network of Pro-Life Missionaries
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http://forerunner.com/lci/X0004_Czech_Republic.html
Czech Republic
World Congress of Families
by Gary Mc Cullough
Prague - A new "anti-missionary law has been proposed in Israel. The
law was passed in a preliminary reading before the Knesset by a margin
of 21 to 7. The law, which has now been referred to committee for
possible revisions before being submitted to a full Knesset, will have
to pass three readings before becoming law.
The bill makes it illegal "to hold, print, copy, distribute or hand
out any kind of literature in which there is any form of an effort to
persuade another to change his religion." On an even more ominous
note, some lawmakers, during the reading of the bill made comments
suggesting they intended to enact laws in the future which would
outlaw all "Messianic" organizations and activity in Israel.
Messianic Jewish and Christian groups in Israel have called for a
campaign to publicize the situation and to persuade lawmakers that it
could result in a public relations disaster for Israel.
The bill has caused deep foreboding as its terms are vague and
wide-ranging. It does not specify what kind of material is referred to
or what kind of possession would be illegal. Distribution could
include personal letters, gifts and bibles. Pray for the Christians of
Israel. (source- Middle East Digest)
A house panel approved a bill closing possible loopholes in the ban on
federal spending for doctor- assisted suicide. It is now illegal to
spend federal money for criminal offenses but with the Supreme Court
considering these cases it is necessary to be more specific or our tax
dollars will be used to kill the old as well as the unborn. (source
AP)
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http://www.churchstate.org/israel1.html
Evangelism Threatened In Israel
Two members of the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) have
introduced a bill that would eliminate evangelistic outreach in
Israel. Bill 174c bans the possession, distribution, import, sharing
or advertising of materials that attempt to induce religious
conversion. Any such material would be subject to immediate
confiscation if the bill became law.
The bill is specifically aimed at Messianic groups -- Jews who
practice the Jewish faith but believe that Jesus is the Messiah. It
would prohibit the distribution of the New Testament and any sort of
evangelistic literature. Although Prime Minister Netanyahu opposes the
bill, he has not made any sort of effort to stop its passage.
According to current estimates the bill has enough votes to pass.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.messiah.net/congressional.html
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN ISRAEL'S KNESSET?
Moshe Gafni (Torah Judaism Party) and Nissim Zvili (Secretary General
of the Labor Party) have co-sponsored the following bill which will be
voted on by Israel's entire Knesset:
PROHIBITION OF INDUCEMENT FOR RELIGIOUS CONVERSION #174C
A. Whoever possesses contrary to the law or prints or copies or
distributes or shares or imports tracts or advertises things in which
there is an inducement for religious conversion is punishable by one
year imprisonment.
B. Any tract or advertisement in which there is inducement to
religious conversion will be confiscated.
WHAT DOES THIS BILL MEAN TO EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS AND TO MESSIANIC
JEWS?
1. Any Evangelical Christian, Arab Christian or Messianic Jew that
possesses evangelistic materials or verbally shares his or her faith
will be liable to be punished by one year's imprisonment. This could
also occur for passing out a tract or giving an Israeli a New
Testament. It could also include the act of photocopying a tract,
printing or handing a Jew any publication which promotes the Name of
Yeshua (Jesus).
2. If an Israeli or tourist produces or brings into Israel any
Evangelistic materials, whether in print, audio or video form, the
Government will confiscate all such materials immediately.
Although not written into this bill, Nissim Zvili, its co-sponsorer,
indicated his future intentions are to criminalize any institutions
and activites in Israel which have Evangelism as one of their main
intentions.
HOW MUCH SUPPORT DOES THIS AMENDMENT HAVE?
This "Anti-missionary" bill has passed its preliminary reading in the
Knesset by a vote of 21 to 7 and has been referred to committee for
possible amendments before being resubmitted to the full Knesset.
(Translator's note: The term "missionary" as used in this context
refers to ANY individual who engages in attempts to persuade others to
his personal religious viewpoint.)
This bill also has the backing of two very prominent Israelis: Finance
Minister Yoram Meridor and Ehud Barak, who may be the Labor Party's
next Candidate for Prime Minister of Israel.
According to the Israeli Government Press Office, which canvassed the
Knesset, 78 Members (out of 120 Members) stated that they WOULD
support the bill. This includes the active support of ALL the Orthodox
Jewish Parties totaling 23 Members.
Consequently, regardless of what Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli
Consulates or Government officials say, it is not likely that this
amendment co-sponsored by the Orthodox Parties and Labor will be
defeated unless a great worldwide outcry of "Human Rights Abuse" is
raised!
HAS THE PERSECUTION INCREASED EVEN BEFORE THE AMENDMENT IS PASSED?
Baruch Maoz, Chairman of Israel's Messianic Action Committee, writes:
"The mere proposal of the Law has already created an atmosphere...
Andrei Milesh, who completed his basic training with honors and was
assigned to a crack unit of the Israeli army, has been removed from
his unit because 'it was discovered that he converted to (some form
of) Christianity' - as if to say that Christians are second class
citizens who are not to be trusted in battle-worthy units of the army.
"Earlier on, the police (armed with an illegal search warrant) broke
into a meeting of Messianic believers in Kiryat Gat, confiscated
Bibles and Evangelistic materials which were returned only following a
stern protest from the United Christian Council in Israel. Other
materials confiscated in Haifa have not yet been returned.
"The Bible Society and Torch Christian Bookshops in Jerusalem have
been threatened by unknown persons that, unless they desist from
evangelism, they will be burnt down!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.webcom.com/endtime/etforum2/Read/157.html
Last week the Knesset gave preliminary approval to a new
"Anti-missionary" bill. According to the Hebrew daily "HaAretz", the
bill, co-sponsored by Moshe Gafni (Torah Judaism Party) and Nissim
Zvili (Labor Party) would make the printing and the distribution of
materials intended to persuade individuals to change their religion
illegal. The bill was passed in its preliminary reading by a vote of
21 to 7. It will now to be referred to committee. After any committee
changes it must be resubmitted to the full Knesset and pass three
readings before becoming law. The bill also contains provisions making
the current non-profit Messianic Jewish organizations in the country
(i.e. assemblies, colleges and other organizations) illegal.
It sounds as if this bill attempts to effectively stamp out any
Messianic Jewish witness or even public existence in the country.
[Sounds exactly like what the Bolsheviks did 80 years ago! Tavish]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.ifa-usapray.org/onwatch-jul16.html
INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA ONLINE
[ ... ]
ON FOREIGN FRONTS
ANTI-MISSIONARY BILL IN ISRAEL KNESSET OPPOSED BY NETANYAHU, PUSHED BY
ORTHODOX - Intense protest and pressure has built around the "anti-
missionary" bill which would outlaw overt evangelism in Israel. The
bill is in the process of a series of "readings" before being voted on
in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and his media advisor have now taken public stands against the
measure. Orthodox Jewish parties have presented the bill as an
instrument of "national survival," putting intense pressure on Knesset
Members to vote in favor of passage. Protestant evangelism and an open
verbal and written witness of Christ as Messiah by Messianic Jews in
Israel would be outlawed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.imb.org/imb/news/story.cfm?id=90
Released to Baptist Press: 6/13/97
Netanyahu promises opposition to "anti-missionary" proposal
By Marty Croll
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has
assured evangelical Christians his government will defeat a proposed
bill to outlaw certain methods of evangelism.
Dubbed the "anti-missionary law," it has triggered an outpouring of
opposition from inside and outside of Israel. It was introduced as a
private members' bill after the government committee that represents
Netanyahu's ruling coalition refused to support it. It passed in its
first of four readings with scarcely a fourth of the legislature, the
Knesset, voting.
"The government strenuously objects to this bill and will act to
ensure that it does not pass," Netanyahu said in a letter to Elwood
McQuaid, executive director of the U.S.-based Friends of Israel.
"Israel deeply values your support and that of Christians throughout
the United States," he added.
Netanyahu's statement puts to rest the question of whether he actually
intends -- on this issue -- to stand by internationally accepted
standards of free speech and the Israeli declaration of independence.
His resolve pits him against radical Jewish parties he needs in his
government coalition to maintain a ruling majority.
That still leaves open the possibility that, even without his support,
proponents of the restrictions could garner enough votes on the floor
of the Knesset to push the bill through.
Or, as many insiders believe, Orthodox parties will use the proposal
to test political waters, then later press such restrictions in the
courts. Or they could even present the bill again during a future
crisis of Netanyahu's government and require passage as a condition
for their staying in and saving Netanyahu's majority coalition.
The proposal touches the heart of a greater struggle in Israel today:
a religious war waged by a minority of Jews to control a largely
non-religious and secular-minded society. Another measure they have
introduced would strip Reform and Conservative Jews of the status that
Orthodox Jews hold within Israel.
Israeli Orthodox parties have threatened to withhold support from
Netanyahu -- and thus bring down his government -- if that bill is not
approved.
The anti-missionary law would alter Israel's penal code to prohibit
"inducement for religious conversion" and sets a one-year jail term
for "whoever possesses contrary to the law or prints or imports tracts
or publishes things in which there is an inducement for religious
conversion."
Further, the law would authorize the government to confiscate "any
tract or advertisement in which there is inducement to religious
conversion." An explanation accompanying the law states that "the
state of Israel, in the framework of the existing laws, is opposed to
any missionary seduction to convert religion ...."
"Missionary" means any individual who tries to persuade others to
change their religious viewpoint. The bill expands an "anti-bribery
law" already on the books outlawing the use of material gain to induce
a person to change religions.
Human rights advocates oppose the bill because it disregards Israel's
May 14, 1948, declaration of independence. In that document, written
in the years after the Holocaust drove Jews from Europe, Israel
promises to "uphold the full social and political equality of all its
citizens without distinction of race, creed or sex," and to "guarantee
full freedom of conscience (and) worship."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is similar activity in Russia:
http://www.imb.org/imb/news/story.cfm?id=93
Released to Baptist Press: 6/26/97
Restrictive bill passes in Russian legislature
By Marty Croll
MOSCOW (BP)--A Russian Orthodox-backed law to restrict the free
practice of faith and limit missionary work sailed through two final
votes in Russia's legislature in late June. It soon will face action
by President Boris Yeltsin.
Orthodox leaders and nationalists proposed the bill as a surprise to
evangelicals in Russia and then quickly pushed it through. The last
vote, on June 23, was 330-8.
Evangelicals had been working with a legislative committee to help
frame a law that would appease Russians protesting cult activity but
not violate human rights under international agreements.
But they were shut out of the process as extremists revised the
proposed law, stripping religious groups of legal rights if they were
not registered with the Communist government 15 years ago. The
revision affords special rights to groups with a 50-year history and a
presence in half of Russia's regions and territories.
Depending on how officials interpret the law, it could affect the
witness of every faith except Russian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Buddhism and
Islam, human rights advocates say. It surely would impede much of the
evangelical activity that has developed since the breakup of the
Soviet Union and the fall of communism. It also would regulate any
church that refused to register during Soviet days and operated
underground.
Further, the bill would eliminate missionary activity except as
approved by religious groups with legal rights. And it would curtail
the activities of many groups without legal rights, unless they get
permission from local government overseers. Evangelicals, of course,
fear their overseers could be hostile Orthodox leaders, non-Christian
religious leaders or even atheists.
In principle, the bill reverses the religious freedom won in Soviet
Russia just before the country embraced democracy in 1991.
It's unclear whether Yeltsin will veto the law, and if he does,
whether the legislature will override his veto. Some analysts say
Yeltsin is less likely to stand against this law than he was a similar
one passed in 1993, which died later that year when he dismissed
parliament.
"This is not the first time the Orthodox Church has postured itself to
move in an effective way against (other) religions," said Danny
Panter, who leads Southern Baptist International Mission Board work in
Russia and other former Soviet republics.
The organization of International Mission Board missionaries in
Russia, which owns property there, has enjoyed status as a legal
entity since 1993. But its work could be affected under a combination
of the 50-year and 15-year clauses in the bill. Exactly how those
rules could -- or would -- be applied is anyone's guess, human rights
analysts say.
Fully informed, International Mission Board missionaries nonetheless
remain positive, said Panter. "We do not feel threatened in any way.
We know our God is more powerful than any law any legislature could
pass. The game isn't over yet, that's for sure."
The board has scattered 46 mission workers throughout the country,
from St. Petersburg in East Europe to the Far East near the Pacific
Ocean. Through ministries in evangelism, discipleship and church
starting, they work closely with Russian Baptists. "We're linked with
them, and they appreciate us," Panter said. "And we appreciate them."
Missionaries consider Russia still a largely untapped harvest field,
where scores are responding to the gospel daily. "We're on Satan's
territory, and we're giving him such a hard struggle that he wants us
out of there," Panter said. "But we're depending on the Lord."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While all of the above is news dated from June and July of 1997 it is
still relevant in showing anti-Christian stances made by
Socialistic/Communistic governments. If anyone has an update on the
Israeli Law status please post it because I can't find anything else
on it.
Tavish
----
Visit the Official Doc Tavish Library at:
Joseph Hertzlinger
In <35467b90...@news.tavish-central.net>
doc_t...@DELETEME.bigfoot.com (Doc Tavish) writes:
>While all of the above is news dated from June and July of 1997 it is
>still relevant in showing anti-Christian stances made by
>Socialistic/Communistic governments. If anyone has an update on the
>Israeli Law status please post it because I can't find anything else
>on it.
On March 30, the AP reported that Nissim Zvili dropped his support of
the bill.
I'm still waiting for evidence of Jewish socialism prior to the 1840s.
ZOG
On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:57:38 GMT, Doc Tavish <doc_t...@DELETEME.bigfoot.com> wrote:
[the usual blithering idiocies]
"Anti-missionary???!!!"
Since when is Tavish interested in converting Jews instead of hating them
and gloating over their "destruction"? This whole thing is *outrageously*
hypocritical -- even by "Doc Tavish" standards!
If he were honestly concerned about the "salvation" of Jews via missionary
work, why isn't he personally doing as much as he can to win them over?
After all, he should be following the example of the Apostle Paul who said:
"To Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under
the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am
not under the law), so as to win those under the law."
(Romans 9:21)
Again, how does "Doc" know who's the "Good" Jew and who's the "Bad" Jew?
What an idiot!
--
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