By Verghese V Joseph –
As Palm Sunday and Easter approach – the two most sacred days on the Christian calendar – two members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) proposed a bill last week that would ban any and all efforts to tell people about Jesus and that too in the land He was born
The bill was presented last week by Representatives Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, ultra-orthodox Jewish members of United Torah Judaism party, which has seven seats out of 120 in the current Knesset.
The two deputies are part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, consisting of 64 seats.
The production and dissemination of videos online explaining the Bible to Jews or Muslims in Israel would be illegal under the bill.
The outlet stated that the draft law considers “books, other printed literature, online articles, podcasts, or other forms of media that explains the life and ministry of Jesus and his message found in the New Testament” to be illegal.
Watch report below, courtesy Newsmax
According to All Israel News , although Netanyahu apparently has said nothing publicly about the legislation, All Israel News reported, “To his credit, Netanyahu has never allowed such legislation to advance or be approved in the past.”
The legislation, “Prohibition of Solicitation for Religious Conversion,” would amend Israel’s penal law from 1977 to say the following,
“(a) someone who solicits a person, directly, digitally, by mail, or online in order to convert his religion, the punishment – one year imprisonment; and if the person was a minor, the punishment – two years imprisonment.”
The bill specifically cites “missionary groups, mainly Christians,” as part of the reason for the new prohibition.
So, if a Christian or Muslim adult tries to convert a Jewish adult to their faith, they could be imprisoned up to one year. If this occurs with a minor (under age 18), the penalty is two years in prison.
Simply, Christians apparently would not be allowed to evangelize in the Holy Land.
According to All Israel News, “Gafni has a long history of opposing followers of Jesus,” and he “first introduced legislation to impose a legal ban on evangelism in Israel back in 1999.”
The news outlet also detailed Netanyahu’s strong support for the Christian community in Israel and especially for Christian evangelicals in the United States.
“While he does not agree theologically with Evangelicals about who Jesus is, Netanyahu has long viewed the Evangelical community as a true blessing and a strategic asset to the State of Israel and to the Jewish people worldwide,” said All Israel News.
The editor-in-chief of All Israel News is Joel C. Rosenberg, a Jew-turned- Christian who believes that Jesus is the Messiah as foretold in the Old Testament. Rosenberg, president and CEO of Near East Media and a New York Times best-selling author, lives in Jerusalem with his wife and sons.
Very Sad. A Judas like betrayal considering all Christians have done for love of Israel. Lord have Mercy on Your blinded former people, the Jews, and bring them home to faith in You, Lord Jesus, without which they cannot be saved. In Lord Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
Looks like it is a replication of Anti-conversion laws in the 11 states of India. Only the penalty is not so severe as it is in India, although the bill is yet to be passed and become a law. Both Netanyahu and Modi have great affinity between them.